¡Forward, Russia! e Boards of Canada

O que tem em comum? Se um é sobretudo ambiental (Boards of Canada) e outro (¡Forward, Russia!) é muitas vezes um rock frenético, ambos sao capazes de ser desconhecidos para muitos. O primeiro já anda por aí há 3 décadas, o segundo nem sequer meia tem. É claro que o facto de passarem despercebidos só os torna mais interessantes (sobretudo quando sao bandas com a qualidade destas duas), há sempre aquele gosto mais pessoal, como se alguma vez a música fosse só nossa. Por azar sao duas bandas que até agora nunca tive a oportunidade de ver ao vivo, ou pelo menos nunca criei essa oportunidade. Boards of Canada da-nos a terra, longas paisagens, tardes de vento q.b., uma nostalgia sem razao aparente. A mim delicia-me também a capa do album aqui presente. Esta fotografia cansada faz-me lembrar a capa da minha versao de infancia de "A menina do mar". Ainda lá tenho o vinil também, o cd, as memórias. Eu também quero uma casa na falésia.

"Formed in 2004, Leeds four-piece ¡Forward, Russia! are an art-indie band consisting of Tom Woodhead (vocals, synthesizer), Rob Canning (bass), Katie Nicholls (drums, vocals) and Katie's brother Whiskas (guitar, vocals and synthesizer). Their sound is characterized by trebly guitars and abstract, cryptic lyrics. Songs are named for the order they were written in (One, Two, Three, Four, etc.). Their image is characterized by wearing identikit t-shirts, with their exclamation mark emblem emblazoned on them. In early 2005 they released a split single (" Nine") with fellow Leeds band This Et Al. This was followed up with a double A-side ("Thirteen/Fourteen") in August 2005. In January 2006 ¡Forward, Russia! released "Twelve" which reached Number 36 in the UK Charts.
"Nine" was released (again) in its own right on May 1st 2006, reaching number 40 in the UK singles chart. (b/w "One"). The band self-released their debut album ("Give Me A Wall") on May 15th 2006, on guitarist Whiskas' Dance To The Radio label. ¡Forward, Russia! are a regular feature on the live circuit, playing sell-out headline tours and major support (with Editors and We Are Scientists for example).




"Boards of Canada are the duo of Michael Sandison (born July 14, 1971) and Marcus Eoin (born May 27, 1973). Based on the northern coast of Scotland, the group got its start on acclaimed experimental electronica label Skam in 1996 after recording an obscene number of tracks and pressing the best of them up as a miniscule-run 12", Twoism, an eight-track promo EP the group sent to labels in lieu of a demonstration tape. The pair's first official release appeared on Skam toward the middle of 1996, and was quickly hailed as among the label's finest releases to date. Titled Hi Scores, the EP is an engaging mix of simple, infectious three-part synth melodies, subtle hip-hop and electro references, and alternately tense and relaxing beatwork endlessly repeated in shifting combinations (à la Autechre, Bochum Welt, and Cylob). Almost a mini-LP at six tracks and nearly half an hour in length, the debut was followed in late 1996 by a series of live gigs opening for Plaid and Autechre, as well as compilation tracks for Uvm and Skam/Musik Aus Strom side project label Mask (under the name Hellinterface).

Further releases for Skam, Mask, and 4th World in-house label Ampoule were scheduled, and in 1998 Boards of Canada issued Music Has the Right to Children, a landmark for electronic listening music that was widely copied. Nearly four years later (and after the release of only a single four-track EP and the archival Peel Sessions), the duo returned with its second LP, Geogaddi. Another long wait followed, until in October 2005 Boards of Canada released The Campfire Headphase, which introduced subtle changes into the pair's sound. A six-track EP, Trans Canada Highway, appeared in May 2006."