Customer Reviews

Peel Session Tx 21-07-98

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The tracks on this cd are very good, but I can't justify the price for the very short playing time. As another reviewer has noted, the album is better value. Also check out 'Hi-Scores', a superior 6-track ep.

Boards of Canada's full-length album was one I enjoyed immensely. This Peel Session is more an extension of that than anything. I liked the minor additions to Aquarius, and the Olson revamp is quite soothing, yet short. Happy Cycling is a track I had already on the album, but a great addition, no less. Perhaps the excellence of this release could have been helped by the addition of "XYZ", which was also recorded for that session. If you are looking to be blown away, look elsewhere; if you are looking for a couple new (yet familiar) tracks, this is the one for you. A definite "A+" for content, but a "C" for effort.

Don't let inexperienced listeners fool you: The different versions on this CD are indeed very different. ESPECIALLY 'Olsen', which is in a completely different (and more delicious-sounding) key than the version on "Music Has the Right..." This is a wonderful CD single, and has my favorite BoC track so far: Happy Cycling. This song alone is worth the price. Can't wait for their next release!

I have everything B of C have done and this is one of the best. They are at their most happy-sounding, almost giddy, with the first two tracks and then a meloncholy, gorgeous third track. The tracks flow together perfectly and it's impossible to listen to this and not feel slightly happier and in a better mood. It's minimal - short and sweet, if they put any more on it would ruin the effect.

You may not think it's worth it, but this is a really special record.
ok, this is a single with 3 tracks:
-Aquarius - a different and MUCH better version then on 'Music has the Right...'

-Happy Cycling - already on the american release of 'Music has the Right...'

-Olsen - see Aquarius. Almost a completely different track. Extremely beautiful.

Short, yes, but very, very re-listenable. BoC are very easy to experience again and again, and nothing's different about this disc.

Aquarius almost(almost!) disappointed me. It seems to be reoughly the same thing (though this is to be expected from a Peel Session) having taken a step backwards and a step forwards. The added drums remove much of the ambiance of the piece, although they add their own "crunchy" flavor. A subtle reinterpretation of a great song, made for a different mood.

Olson is, always has been, and always will be incredible. They took a simple piece and completely changed the feeling. More Geogaddi like, calming and yet unnerving at the same time. Perhaps the best "new" thing on the CD.

Happy Cycling is the reason Olson is only the best "new" thing on the CD. It's one of the best things BoC has ever made,but if you've listened to Music has the Right, which most who buy this album will have, it won't seem new. It's the same thing.

XYZ, not listed on the tracklisting on Amazon for whatever reason, doesn't sound like you'd expect BoC to sound like. Very progressive, very drummy. Quite good. Worth a listen.

If you like BoC at all you should grab it. It has a little bit of everything they do.

As the title suggests, this CD consists of three session recordings for John Peel's brilliant radio show on the BBC. The first and last tracks are fine re-mixes of those taken from the Board's excellent first album, whereas the second track - not on the album - is a seagull-sappling, trip-fest that tickles your fancy whilst never rubbing you up the wrong way! Get your credit cards at the ready, pop-pickers!

Of the two (soon to be 3) LPs and 3 EPs BOC has released, this is probably the last album of theirs you'd want to pick up. Why? every song on it is also on Music has the Right to Children. That's not to say this EP doesn't have has merit; two of the three songs on here are different from their LP selves.

Aquarius [Version 3] is a suberb song, but it isn't much different from the original version on 'Music has the Right'. They've added and subtracted a few layers here and there and the result is a version I'd say slightly edges out the original. The differences are really quite minimal though. Happy Cycling isn't one of my favorite songs of theirs. It rambles on a bit too long before finally collecting itself at the end. In any case, this version is identical to the one on 'Music has the Right'. Olson [Version 3] is where this EP earns its salt. The original was a really pretty 1 1/2 minute lead-in, which had been streched out by a minute and fleshed out into an actual song. It's easily the best track of the three, since it's essentially been reworked into a whole new piece.

If you have 'Music the Right to Children' you're basically spending $12 for a Olson ver 3 and a slightly better version of Aquarius. If you don't have it, spending a couple more bucks on MHTRTC will net you a version of every song on this EP plus 15 more tracks.

I really love this release. Short, yes, but it is very VERY good, the one CD of theirs which I play the most.

VERY recommended.

This is undisputably the best John Peel session ever recorded. Words cannot express the sheer beuty of 'Aqaurius'. A sound akin to a quireboy on MDMA. Breathtakingly awesome stuff.

I've always been annoyed that this CD did not include "XYZ" which was part of the originally recorded BoC Peel Sessions.
The "Olson" version is very cool.