Boards Of Canada ‎– Trans Canada Highway

Ok, let's take this release track by track:

Dayvan Cowboy - Well produced, nice riffs and melodies, but just downright cheesey. Too happy and upbeat for my liking, almost like a country song. Even includes upbeat orchestral pads to make the whole experience seem even more fake. Most people here commenting praise this track, but if you want serious music, and not cheesey stuff, then look elsewhere.

Left Side Drive - A very downbeat and ambient track with some breaks here and there. Doesn't accomplish much, but this is to its advantage as well. A neutral track overall, nothing enticing.

Heard From Telegraph Lines - An ambient piece, very nice, but neutral as well. Nothing happening - but that's in many ways the purpose of ambient music. To be ignorable yet intricate.

Skyliner - Very similar to the first track but less upbeat and automatically better. A good track, thumbs up to this one.

Under The Coke Sign - Another ambient work, and just about the same in terms of quality as the other one too.

Remix - Decent remix, not better than the original, but an okay alternative.

Overall this release is far from essential, and it isn't really worth getting.

Boards of Canada and "electric guitar" aren't words you normally put together, but on their TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY, that's exactly what you get from the get-go. "Dayvan Cowboy" is like a soundtrack to a futuristic Wim Wenders film; the country-western vibe might put some people off, but for me, it's an added bit of charm. "Left Side Drive" is more familiar territory for the Boards, a dreamy and drifting track. "Skyliner" continues in that vein, with its long sci-fi synths and scattered rhythms. Odd Nosdam takes a slow, droning approach to his remix of "Dayvan Cowboy," such that want originally sounds like a road trip turns into a head trip.

The Odd Nosdam remix sounds a lot like when I was young, lying on a grassy hill, and I could hear airplanes flying over me in the far distance. It's quite powerful, especially if you grew up in a peaceful, small Canadian city, like I did. The ability Boards Of Canada (and, it seems, Odd Nosdam also!) has for capturing the care-free, curious emotions of my youth constantly amazes me. It is hard to believe they are not living inside my head.

Back to form for BoC in my opinion. Not that 'Campfire Headphase'was by any means a disappointment, more a surprise direction & taking new directions with their aesthetic. 'Left Hand Drive' is by all means the standout here. Fading in from a distant memory & pounding in like a cold morning, awash with atmosphere & it just feels right. I actually picture myself driving across a glacier, sun in my eyes, my mind conjuring images of past friends & family, safe in the knowledge of my unknown destination ahead of me. A true wonder of a track. The interlude of 'Heard from telegraph lines' is also more classic drone BoC territory which just passes through your mind effortlessly, then into the punchy 'Skyliner'. Suggestive & sounds so open & elevating. Will have you thinking of many things, but look to the sky when hearing this. The 'Dayvan Cowboy' remix is (I think) a worthy remix by Odd Nosdam, segmenting it into a 3 part ambient,moody,trip hop masterpiece. Keep looking skyward, you're in safe hands people.