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(Audio CD)
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| | Product Details | | Audio CD Release Date: | May 30, 2006 | | Studio: | Warp Records | | Number Of Discs: | 1 | | Format: | EP | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 23 reviews |
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| | Track Listing | | 1. | Dayvan Cowboy | | 2. | Left Side Drive | | 3. | Heard From Telegraph Lines | | 4. | Skyliner | | 5. | Under The Coke Sign | | 6. | Dayvan Cowboy (Odd Nosdam remix) | |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 23 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 58 found the following review helpful:
 Pack up the campfire and hit the highway... Jun 01, 2006
By Saint Santiago
Boards of Canada have taken a lot of heat (unjustly) for last year's release, the Campfire Headphase. Many fans were very disappointed with unexpected use of analog instruments and minimalist techniques within its songs. I'm sure these are the same fans that hated Geogaddi, only to love the album at a later time. If Campfire sounded like earlier works, then the same pundits would moan that BoC is a one-trick pony with their signature sound. We live in such a disposable society in that if an album, movie or game is not an instant classic, it's garbage. I think BoC deserves more than such a myopic attitude toward their music as of late. The Boards signature sound is not just one album but it is their whole body of work.
I loved Campfire, even though I do admit it's not as complex or enduring as MHTRTC or Geogaddi. I will be honest in that I disliked Dayvan Cowboy; it was the only track I would skip on Campfire. Alas, as with the entire BoC discography, understanding comes with time and repetition. It took me almost 2 years to fall in love with Geogaddi, so growing to love Dayvan was no exception. I used to think this piece was overblown, too epic and too pretentious but when Warp released the Dayvan video, the song began to coagulate in my mind. When BoC decided to put Dayvan as the lead piece on Highway, I knew this was done for a reason, as if the Sandison brothers wanted to slap some sense in me, screaming, "Look! This song makes sense if you are really willing to listen!"
Listen I did. On Highway, Davyan Cowboy is taken out of the vaporous, dreamy context of Headphase and now stands alone as a flagship track. Don't let the intrepid guitar riffs distract you; this track is very complex. You have to work hard to tune out the obvious and let the sublime sink in. Stop looking for Aquarius or Music is Math and one will see this track is just as beautiful in its' own right. When the sad day comes when BoC hangs up the synths for good, don't be surprised if Dayvan is remembered as a landmark track.
Skyliner and Left Side Drive are magnificent tracks. Both satisfy the listener that is still yearning for the old "BoC" sound. Skyliner reminds me very much of the unreleased XYZ from the Peel Sessions. Left Side Drive is definitely one of the best singles written since the Last Walk Around Mirror Lake Remix. Heard it From the Telegraph Lines and Under the Coke Sign are signature BoC vignettes, always intriguing, always leaving something for more. For those who complain that these tracks are too short, remember these three words: Less is More.
The Odd Nosdam remix of Dayvan took some getting used to and I'm still working on it, but it may be a contender for the best remix of a BoC song to come out in a long, long time. The track is time stretched into 3 acts, each giving a hint of that cLOUDDEAD flavor without sacrificing the Boards' originality. This track is leagues better than Boards' remix of Dead Dogs Two, which was a horrible song to begin with. The Dayvan remix cannot be rushed; it has to be digested slowly and methodically--a reflection of the Headphase album itself.
Trans Canada Highway is a worthy companion to Headphase and actually makes its parent album that much richer. It's no accident that both albums are initialed "TCH". Don't listen to the jokers that are looking for an instant dose of Kid for Today Part 2. Both Highway and Headphase represent an evolution of the Boards sound, not a deviation from it. Listen to both discs in one sitting and you will know what I mean.
11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
 Decide For Yourself May 31, 2006
By Bengt
"Bengt-Aaron"
Boards of Canada has turned out 'Trans Canada Highway' as a follow-up to their latest full-length release 'The Campfire Headphase'; the new EP explores a darker place away from the warmth and light of the campfire. Having said that, 'Trans' is really an extension of the TCH concept, even bearing the same abbreviation. Keeping that in mind, your feelings towards this album will probably be in proportion to those towards TCH.
This is an EP so obviously I didn't anticipate a lot of material, but I did expect something more than what is given. Most BoC fans should be familiar with 'Dayvan Cowboy' (taken from TCH) and the single 'Skyliner', which was available through WARP or other sources. Two tracks, 'Heard from Telegraph Lines' and 'Under the Coke Sign' clock in around a mere 1:00 each; and while I would love to say they contribute alot to the atmosphere of the album, they really are nothing more than uneventful filler. That leaves the listener with two full-length tracks, 'Left Side Drive' and the Odd Nosdam remix of 'Dayvan Cowboy'. The former is exactly what I wanted more of from this EP, whereas the latter exemplified how this album strings you along towards a climax that never comes.
Overall, the album is worth it if you're a loyal BoC fan but you're not missing anything otherwise. Independently the tracks are BoC in all of their road-tripping goodness though as a whole the sightseeing wasn't enough to make up for the lack of destination. Subtract the filler and what's already been released and you're left with three decent tracks... and a three-star review.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Boards of Canada at their fuzziest - Essential Jun 12, 2006
By Steward Willons
This is an amazing EP - one of Boards of Canada's strongest to date. Honestly, I didn't enjoy Dayvan Cowboy that much on Campfire Headphase, but since it has been recontectualized on Trans Canada Highway, I'm a huge fan of the song. The new tracks are more like what one would typically expect from Boards of Canada. Warm, fuzzy, mellow, lush analogue synths and plenty of them! For those who weren't as taken with the newer BOC sound on Campfire Headphase, assuage your fears - this is definitely a return to the traditional sound. That's not to say though that this is a rehash of old material. One can hear bits and pieces of Geogaddi and such, but the overall feel is much closer to Music Has the Right to Children. To all Boards of Canada fans - buy this without hesitation. It doesn't matter what you thought of Campfire - this is quality.
I have one question. The title, Trans Canada Highway, seems to be a fairly obvious reference to Kraftwerk's legendary Trans Europe Express and the album cover seems to point to Kraftwerk's Autobahn album cover, but I don't hear any explicit musical connection. Is Boards of Canada paying a simple titular tribute to Kraftwerk, or is there something else buried within? This calls for repeated listenings!
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
LUCA MAINI's igloomag.com REVIEW :: Jul 12, 2006
By Pietro Da Sacco
LUCA MAINI's igloomag.com REVIEW ::
(07.11.06) Boards of Canada have come a long way since their early days of home made CDs given only to friends and family. From their Hi-Scores EP on Skam, Warp Records quickly snapped up the Scottish duo. Their pioneering Music Has the Right to Children not only made the band their name, but introduced a lot of non-electronic music fans to synthesized sound. The heady melodies, hazy beats and dreamy soundscapes, created on aging analog machines, won the guys a solid fan base. BoC became the toast of the IDM scene, playing headline at several electronic gigs. After Music Has The Right... the partnership released the sublime A Beautiful Place Out in the Country EP which was followed up the by the expressive Geogaddi LP. The Sandison's recently put out their third LP Campfire Headphase before their latest EP: Trans Canada Highway. One question immediately springs to mind, has the Boards of Canada sound transformed as the size of the musicians fan base has? Has the BoC sound evolved over the years? And is there any reason why the sound should change?
The extroverted Scotsmen, generally stored away in their studio hideaway: the Hexagonal Sun, have stepped out once again to release another electronic piece. But does it stand up to its predecessors? The CD for Trans Canada Highway comes in a loving cardboard sleeve, a visual precursor to the wealth of music contained on the 5" metal disc. The opening track, "Dayvan Cowboy" adheres to much of the classical BoC sound with heady and hazy synths. Yet, the track has a much more organic feel to it than much of the groups other releases with its guitars and strings. The track is not as much a break in the classic Boards sound as it is an experimentation with it. A really wonderful piece to start the EP on.
The next two tracks are quintessential Boards of Canada. "Left Side Drive," with its dreamy melodies that weave seamlessly through crisp snares, is what made the Sandison's name in music. "Skyliner" is a throwback to Music Has the Right to Children, a blend of analog chords and crunchy blip hop beats crape a clever and relaxing track.
"Under the Coke Sign" opens with light electronic chords that sound like they were recorded on some archaic Dictaphone, with loud crackles audible in the background. Like "Heard from Telegraph Lines", "Under the Coke Sign" is a break track; a palette refresher before the last track. The Odd Nosdam remix is perhaps one of the most interesting elements of the EP. Odd Nosdam, AKA David Madson, nervously starts of this remix, dipping a timorous toe into the waters of the BoC original. Then, the remix's confidence grows as tones and strings rise from the recesses of the speakers. But all of a sudden, like a frightened child, the track scurries back into the security of silence. The sound re-emerges to poke a droning head out from behind the speakers only to quickly recede once more into silence. The remix doesn't particularly resemble the original, but why should it have to? This is a wonderfully interesting a playful rendition to finish the EP on.
At the beginning of this review the question was posed whether BoC's style had transformed or not. Campfire Headphase showed that BoC could go in different directions, but is that a evolution of sound? A better way to tackle this problem, is why should the BoC style have to change? The Sandison's created their own unique sound, one which is still fresh and which they are masters of. Trans Canada Highway shows that Boards are able not only able to re-create their classic sound, but add elements of experimentation to that sound such as with "Dayvan Cowboy." Trans Canada Highway showcases both the music that made BoC, and hints to the new direction they may take. This EP is not about BoC's evolution, a notion that reviewers are always fixated with, but about BoC's expertise in electronc music. Once more the Sandison's have offered up a deep and beautiful release, one not to be smeared by pedantries of Darwinian theory. This EP is a beacon shining through the fog of critics comments. Trans Canada Highway solidifies and confirms the Sandisons rightful status as electronic masterminds.
>> igloomag.com >>
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Good EP, bad timing Nov 04, 2006
By Impreza22B
"supra687"
After the release of The Campfire Headphase, I was surprised to find so many people disappointed with their new sound. It might not be the same as their old sound, and TCH might not be the same as (or as great as) Music Has the Right to Children, but was still a worthy release that marks the progression of BoC's music. Obviously I greatly enjoyed The Campfire Headphase, and still do a year after its release. When I heard news of a new EP being released back in May, I was ecstatic. After listening to it... I was quite as ecstatic.
When I think of BoC's EPs, I think of the textured and rather dark ambient sounds of In A Beautiful Place Out in the Country, or the chilled-out trip-hop/IDM sounds of Twoism and Hi Scores. Trans Canada Highway is a different kind of EP. As with BoC's other EPs, there precious little time in which to create a beautiful atmosphere of sound with (which is done successfully in their other EPs), but there's only 4 new songs on here, as there are 2 version of Dayvan Cowboy- the exact same version that's on The Campfire Headphase and a remix version. This would have been fine if released before The Campfire Headphase, but the fan's desire for new material has increased while their patience decreases.
Don't get me wrong, Trans Canada Highway is a great release. "Left Side Drive" is now one of my favorite BoC songs, as it blends the smooth and "trippy" atmospheric tones from The Campfire Headphase and combines them with trip-hop beats of BoC's earlier releases. "Heard from Telegraph Lines" is another great short BoC transition song, and "Skyliner" combines the chilled attitude of The Campfire Headphase with the experimental and distorted sound of Geogaddi. "Davyan Cowboy" is a wonderful gem, one of my favorite songs from The Campfire Headphase.
So overall, Trans Canada Highway is good EP, with plenty of atmospheric tunes to keep Boards of Canada fans- including myself- satisfied. The only problem is that Trans Canada Highway would've been a far more effective release if it was released before The Campfire Headphase. It's the perfect pre-cursor to The Campfire Headphase, rather than an appropriate follow-up.
Overall- 7/10
See all 23 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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