Although formalistic and at times austere, the new ambient album by Boards of Canada is a crystalline pleasure, a melodic tapestry of experimental tones, samples, grounded with crunchy beats. Unlike nearly all the other Warp records lineup, the Scottish duo bind melodies to their aural textures, noise compositions. In this, their second album, they've selected both long, building atmospheric landscapes and also snippets of extremely pleasurable warmth. I didn't think it was possible to describe any Warp artists as warm but Geogaddi is. Excellent listening and working music.

Bn.com music writeup for Boards of Canada | samples on Bn.com

SPRINGTIME POP
"Smash the System" - Saint Etienne (double CD) - Although it's still February, I'm listening to this perfect selection of spring time melancholy pop by Saint Etienne. "Smash the System" is a double CD compilation of their singles: all dreamy, la la pop tunes lead by the whispery thin vocals of the elegant Sarah Cracknell.

I can think of nothing better to listen to on a bright day when you have to stay in the apartment working. (On the negative side, I can think of nothing worse to listen to if you're feeling lonely. You'll feel even more apt to call up that ex).

I had the pleasure of seeing them live in Vancouver two years ago in their "Sound of Water" tour when I became a real fan. Sarah is even more glamorous and sexy seen up close, matching her silky voice. While St. Etienne's stylings seem set permanently in the 60s and helped set the stage for twee pop, "Smash the System" has more than a handful of danceable tunes of the 34 tracks included. A quick look for remixes and St. Etienne will dig up lots of remixed versions and collaborations. Since this is a collection of singles "Smash the System" is a great introduction into their better known songs and may save you trying to collect some of their early albums out of their rather large catalogue.

Download an MP3 from Saint Etienne

After listening to "Since I Left You" for four hours straight I'm left with the conclusion that it could either signal the death of super-dense sampling albums or simply grind me down and make me a lover. Although I didn't instantly fall for it like I did a similar album, the LemonJelly.KY collection, after repeated listening I've got samples of the Osmonds, The Mamas and the Papas, and even Wayne & Schuster drummed into my head. Actually, I think it's a great party album along the lines of Dimitri's Night at the Playboy Mansion. If you want to start anywhere with the Avalanches, start with the video or the mp3 for their single "Frontier Psychiatrist". The song starts out with a sample of Mauric Jarre's "Lawrence of Arabia" theme which is quickly scratched out. Finally, something good comes out of Australia.