Tomorrow’s Harvest is the first full length record from Boards of Canada in eight years, and despite the length of time between projects, there’s no real departure in terms of sound or style. The Scottish siblings behind BoC continue to push and pursue their fascination with sound, whether they’re capturing raw recordings or using sonic manipulation. Although their curiosity and craftsmanship have once again chiseled out some really dense and atmospheric numbers, Tomorrow’s Harvest is a little uneven and a bit strung out in places.
The duo have always had a soft spot for cinematic themes and have previously shown a darker side, but with this effort, they seem to lean a little harder into those particular territories. The eerie and effective surrealism of ”Telepath” and the throbbing 70s, sci-fi vibe of “Collapse” are two prime examples of just how on point Boards of Canada can be when mining through darker tones and disoriented ambience. On the other hand, a number of tracks (“Jacquard Causeway” being a chief culprit) have a tendency to oversell some of their ideas and motifs. There are also a number of moments on the record which feel a little undernourished and bare, leaving the equilibrium of the album somewhat unbalanced and wonky.
Although it may not strike the same impact as quickly as previous outings, this latest body of work from Boards of Canada is still rather enjoyable. As a complete album or a singular entity, it might not carry much weight, but as a collection of individual tracks, you’ll find a healthy quantity of precisely stitched compositions. In addition to bringing Mike Sandinson and Marcus Eoin out of hibernation, Tomorrow’s Harvest serves as a stern reminder that few electronic musicians can capture both texture and tone like these guys.
