There’s red line, thin, but distinct, between different kinds of sounding—between soundalike and sound like, resemblance and redolence, imitation and influence; thus, though sometimes end products may sound similar, in essence they differ crucially.
Involving sounding boards (or Boards)
There’s red line, thin, but distinct, between different kinds of sounding—between soundalike and sound like, resemblance and redolence, imitation and influence; thus, though sometimes end products may sound similar, in essence they differ crucially. There follows just such a case, involving sounding boards (or Boards), and two ways of doing / being so.
Skytree :: Tribute To Boards Of Canada EP (Timewheel) — Tribute To Boards Of Canada EP wears its essence on its sleeve (pun intended) with a clear signifier: ‘tribute.’ Created by Evan Snyder, for Skytree is he (igloo ‘view of Infraplanetary (2020) is indicative of presence on our radar as early as Hyphae (Boltfish, 2010), and possibly Windings of the Dragon Track (Herb, 2009)), in honor of Boards of Canada and Warp, it has the feel of unashamed fanboy indulgence. Of its three tracks, one is a version (‘resample’) of a well-known BoC track (“Dayvan Cowboy,” the others BoC-suggestive (opener “Julie And Candy (Skytree Anthem)” and closer “Forest Moon (Skytree Reconstruct)”). Clearly something of a labor of love for the Boulder boy, reportedly taking him two years to bring to fruition, TTBOC EP is, if not above reproach, then of a quality only the hardest of BoC-heads might be inclined to quibble with. In closing, we bring you one very important thought, courtesy of the release page:
.— . / .-.. — …- . / -.— — ..- / .- .-.. .-..
.— . / .- .-. . / .-. . .- … — -. .- -… .-.. . / .—. . — .—. .-.. .
Zachary Gray :: Suburbia EP (A Person Disguised as People) — Bringing the Canada, if not the Boards, out of London (Ontario!), is Zachary Gray, who ‘takes his cues from Boards of Canada (among others)’ (note: ‘takes his cues from’) ‘contributing to the growth of IDM & folktronica in Canada’ (Discogs). His Suburbia on Ontario’s A Person Disguised As People is ‘a collection of songs to remind me of where I’ve been, and provide a preview of where I’m going.’ Where he’s been is evidently in similar territory, sonically and emotively, to Skytree, and, by extension, BoC (and some collective folk memory), albeit more mediated, processed through, or integrated with, his own sensibility. The identity of where he’s going is likely to be found less in “Upon Avon” and “Ghosted,” betraying as they do a heavy stamp of Boards (where he’s been?), and more in the likes of “Wabana High,” “No Sleep” and “Afterthought,” whose soundings seem closer to something more sui generis. More Gray…
Tribute To Boards Of Canada is available on Timewheel. [Bandcamp]
Suburbia is available on A Person Disguised as People. [Bandcamp]
