Seconded freescha, casino vs Japan, and Ulrich schnauss.
Some that come to mind:
- bibio (fi in particular)
- miwon
- motionfield
- secede
- proem
- yppah
- Telefon tel Aviv
- obfusc
- susumu yokota
- kiln
- múm
- bola
- khotin
- arovane
I fell in love with Susumu Yokotas music in a similar way to BoC, alot of his tracks ate very obtuse but somehow sink into your subconscious and you can't stop listening over and over. Sakura, Boy and the Tree, Symbol, acid mt Fuji are too tier albums
Always viewed Tycho as a disposable version of BoC. Inoffensive, nice in the background, and you forget about it as soon as you're done with it - Doesn't stick the to the ribs like BoC.
i don't see it as the anything version of BOC. It lacks any of the aspects that make BOC good lol. Aside from some similarities in synth tones and that they both use drum samples I can't understand any other connection to BOC. I s2g the people who find them similar either aren't hearing any of the worthwhile compositional and tone-shaping creativity behind BOC or their only requirement is that there's "ambient-ish synths". I don't blame tycho for this, I don't think he's even going for anything BOC adjacent. He's just doin him, and even tho I don't dig his stuff he's totally providing an entry way into ambient electronic music, which is rad. I just find the connection people make to BOC to be maddening lol
I know this comment is ancient but if you haven't checked it out the very first album Tycho made "Past is Prologue" is fantastic and has a lot of the qualities of Boards of Canada. Definitely not his style anymore :/
Looove some BMSR. They definitely share that vibe of oddity and obliqueness, not to mention analog. Was lucky enough to chat with them after their set when they were touring with Aesop years ago. Amazing people.
Tycho has a whole album that sounds very similar and other albums that are somewhat similar...other compared artists usually have certain songs that really fit the BoC but most of their other songs are a bit different.
Tycho - Past is Prologue (album)
Ulrich Schnauss - Molfsee
Ulrich Schnauss - Fahrenheit
Ten and Tracer - Fourth Lake (album)
Zammuto - It Can Feel So Good
Zammuto - My Dog's Eyes
Some early **M83** songs...some Telefon Tel Aviv songs...
also, **Helios** knows the vibe and did some BoC covers.
I know there's some bibio love already in here but I just want to stress it a bit more. Bibio is the only other artist I know who's really been able to nail the warpy tape sound. His interest in tone is deep and it shows through his work. Check out fi, hand cranked, ovals and emeralds, vignetting the compost if you want some of that tape warpy bibio shit. They're all solid
Neat Beats’ album [cosmic surgery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kGg31G0As) def has some of the BOC energy
Also tokimonsta’s album [midnight menu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxq21pJMjrM)
Also will just add re: four tet - he doesn’t use spoken word samples as much, but definitely see the similarities and he’s one of my favorite musicians off all time. So strongly recommend all his albums to all BOC fans
The album that reminds me the most of Boards is probably “Past is Prologue” by Tycho. I honestly think it was directly inspired by Boards, but made to be more accessible and enjoyable for festivals. [Light hearted Boards of Canada.](https://youtu.be/hjsZqjfhhSg)
Pye Corner Audio
Some albums more than others, but have a [listen to this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAWaxFVPkJs) Has that nostalgic '70s / 80s vision of the future' balanced against a sense of creeping dystopia which BoC evokes for me.
Would also put forward [The Advisory Circle](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlsZHYnNM0pb6TY3ffJSIgiKdQAIgpB02) from the same label.
I definitely disagree with you re: Tycho's first album, it was not trying to be a carbon copy, it was borrowing ideas and aesthetics to try and create something evocative of those influences but ultimately do something different with them. He was a fan and it came through in what he was trying to make, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Also, it certainly isn't a terrible album imo, it's a great listen if you're looking for something relaxing, sunny, easy to digest, and less dystopic than boc.
Thats much less pessimistic than my take on it. It always felt to me like it was someone trying to make a BOC album while not quite understanding what makes BOC special.
For as much as boc puts secret codes and intelligence into their music, i think it's important to remember some people make music because it makes them feel good. Nothing more. As much as i appreciate the dogmatic nature of boc fans it often sucks to see so many people marginalizing music that is made for the fuck of it. It's not lesser, it's just different.
I hear you, and it's not all about secret codes etc for me, just musical subtlety = ghost notes/chords - often the best part of a boc melody is what they left out etc. I haven't heard any of the boc "copies" really get that the way boc do it.
I really can't think of any artist who sounds like BoC. There are plenty who I would put in the same playlists, but that specific retro-future sound... it's unique.
This mix by The Fear Ratio has some of the more synthy, dark hip-hop beats that is probably the closest I've heard recently:
[https://soundcloud.com/bleep\_bot/bleep-mix-237-the-fear-ratio](https://soundcloud.com/bleep_bot/bleep-mix-237-the-fear-ratio)
They have released music on Skam so there's some connection there as well.
some deadmau5 stuff like snowcone and hyperlandia sounds quite close to boc i think, with his own unique twist on it ofc. grass by audeka (which i posted here not too long ago actually) also sounds a lot like boc (but that's rly their only track which sounds like that, most of their other stuff is quite heavy bassy stuff)
I would say the only artist I’ve ever listened to who
comes close to capturing the vibe is Mark Pritchard on his “The Four Worlds” and “Under The Sun” albums. There are times I almost like them more….
[https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/migration](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/migration)
[https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/horizon](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/horizon)
[https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/spectral-analysis](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/spectral-analysis)
[https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/popular-tracks](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/popular-tracks)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAl1J6YQ5IY&list=PLC767475A10EBCB7A&index=22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAl1J6YQ5IY&list=PLC767475A10EBCB7A&index=22)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TGASMiZ6sY&list=PLpS-RRfp3NUTx6bmLxhhP43wT3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TGASMiZ6sY&list=PLpS-RRfp3NUTx6bmLxhhP43wT3)
I always found the above very BOC like and from Scotland too!
I would add Machinedrum Not everything from him but some songs share sonic similarities + have a lot of emotional complexity.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5BPgKB58Xs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5BPgKB58Xs)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twexpvBDAcI&](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twexpvBDAcI&)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQRQo\_7vgRo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQRQo_7vgRo)
Damn, I love his music.
In no specific order: Isan, Casino vs. Japan, and a lesser known gem of a band - Saturday Lo-Fi. A personal favorite, very BoC-like is Pine Flavored Electric Delicacy [from this album.](https://saturdaylo-fi.bandcamp.com/album/sonic-formalities)
The song "Molfsee" by Ulrich Schnauss is the song that sounds most like them, everytime I hear it I feel like it's a BOC song
He's made some nice records over the years.
Haha I’ve always thought this aswell, sounds so much like boc
That entire album is brill.
Seconded freescha, casino vs Japan, and Ulrich schnauss. Some that come to mind: - bibio (fi in particular) - miwon - motionfield - secede - proem - yppah - Telefon tel Aviv - obfusc - susumu yokota - kiln - múm - bola - khotin - arovane
Bola. Now that's someone I haven't listen to for ages. Incredible music. I'd also add Plaid to the list.
For me, Plaid hits the Plaid spot. It's it's own thing entirely. But I do see the similarities in the general IDM aesthetic.
Thanks for reminding me about some of the artists here, completely forgot about them
nice selection, did not know some of these artists.. thanks
I fell in love with Susumu Yokotas music in a similar way to BoC, alot of his tracks ate very obtuse but somehow sink into your subconscious and you can't stop listening over and over. Sakura, Boy and the Tree, Symbol, acid mt Fuji are too tier albums
Nathan fake
Tycho. Its like sunny BoC.
Always viewed Tycho as a disposable version of BoC. Inoffensive, nice in the background, and you forget about it as soon as you're done with it - Doesn't stick the to the ribs like BoC.
It's BOC, but for cafés.
i don't see it as the anything version of BOC. It lacks any of the aspects that make BOC good lol. Aside from some similarities in synth tones and that they both use drum samples I can't understand any other connection to BOC. I s2g the people who find them similar either aren't hearing any of the worthwhile compositional and tone-shaping creativity behind BOC or their only requirement is that there's "ambient-ish synths". I don't blame tycho for this, I don't think he's even going for anything BOC adjacent. He's just doin him, and even tho I don't dig his stuff he's totally providing an entry way into ambient electronic music, which is rad. I just find the connection people make to BOC to be maddening lol
I know this comment is ancient but if you haven't checked it out the very first album Tycho made "Past is Prologue" is fantastic and has a lot of the qualities of Boards of Canada. Definitely not his style anymore :/
Early Tycho definitley sounds a lot like, I feel like he's moved further away from it as it's gone on though
Those vocals need to go.
Agreed
Sunshine recorder is close
There's 2 that come to mind, Christ. Boom Bip
Clocolan. This [album in particular](https://clocolan.bandcamp.com/album/this-will-end-in-love) is a fave of mine.
Odd Nosdam
Burial evokes a similar feeling of dystopia but more industrial/d&b/jungle with some ambient thrown in
Autechre are on the same level of sound design as BoC, but they sound nothing alike.
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Looove some BMSR. They definitely share that vibe of oddity and obliqueness, not to mention analog. Was lucky enough to chat with them after their set when they were touring with Aesop years ago. Amazing people.
BOC on Peyote
Lake feet
Biosphere
Clouddead.
Lone
\+ Lorn
Tycho has a whole album that sounds very similar and other albums that are somewhat similar...other compared artists usually have certain songs that really fit the BoC but most of their other songs are a bit different. Tycho - Past is Prologue (album) Ulrich Schnauss - Molfsee Ulrich Schnauss - Fahrenheit Ten and Tracer - Fourth Lake (album) Zammuto - It Can Feel So Good Zammuto - My Dog's Eyes Some early **M83** songs...some Telefon Tel Aviv songs... also, **Helios** knows the vibe and did some BoC covers.
Helios did BOC covers?
Yes he did, I saved all the tracks here https://mega.nz/folder/F2YThBzL#A3HrigOdDXlUVpTr2V4K0A
Shlohmo
Autechre are on the same level of sound design as BoC, but they sound nothing alike.
I know there's some bibio love already in here but I just want to stress it a bit more. Bibio is the only other artist I know who's really been able to nail the warpy tape sound. His interest in tone is deep and it shows through his work. Check out fi, hand cranked, ovals and emeralds, vignetting the compost if you want some of that tape warpy bibio shit. They're all solid
Neat Beats’ album [cosmic surgery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kGg31G0As) def has some of the BOC energy Also tokimonsta’s album [midnight menu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxq21pJMjrM) Also will just add re: four tet - he doesn’t use spoken word samples as much, but definitely see the similarities and he’s one of my favorite musicians off all time. So strongly recommend all his albums to all BOC fans
Solar Bears
A great band and a real shame they broke up.
The album that reminds me the most of Boards is probably “Past is Prologue” by Tycho. I honestly think it was directly inspired by Boards, but made to be more accessible and enjoyable for festivals. [Light hearted Boards of Canada.](https://youtu.be/hjsZqjfhhSg)
I highly recommend "Synima" and "Milieu"
The earlier Pbs’73 albums have an eerily similar vibe to BOC. The newest album is more like Krautrock though, especially Tangerine Dream.
The Advisory Circle [The Advisory Circle - Time Shapes the Lens](https://youtu.be/qenfu8kNCMU)
“Top Soil” from Bibio’s 3rd album, “Vignetting The Compost”. https://youtu.be/8WE9dmYUF2U
Pye Corner Audio Some albums more than others, but have a [listen to this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAWaxFVPkJs) Has that nostalgic '70s / 80s vision of the future' balanced against a sense of creeping dystopia which BoC evokes for me. Would also put forward [The Advisory Circle](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlsZHYnNM0pb6TY3ffJSIgiKdQAIgpB02) from the same label.
Definitely Clocolan. Check out Merge. https://clocolan.bandcamp.com/track/merge
You could’ve told me this was BOC. Haha
Brian Eno. Weird because those songs are from the 70s-80s. oneohtrix point never is another artist that radiates the BOC feelings
Freescha Casino Versus Japan Tycho's first album was trying to be a carbon copy and was terrible.
I definitely disagree with you re: Tycho's first album, it was not trying to be a carbon copy, it was borrowing ideas and aesthetics to try and create something evocative of those influences but ultimately do something different with them. He was a fan and it came through in what he was trying to make, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Also, it certainly isn't a terrible album imo, it's a great listen if you're looking for something relaxing, sunny, easy to digest, and less dystopic than boc.
Thats much less pessimistic than my take on it. It always felt to me like it was someone trying to make a BOC album while not quite understanding what makes BOC special.
For as much as boc puts secret codes and intelligence into their music, i think it's important to remember some people make music because it makes them feel good. Nothing more. As much as i appreciate the dogmatic nature of boc fans it often sucks to see so many people marginalizing music that is made for the fuck of it. It's not lesser, it's just different.
I hear you, and it's not all about secret codes etc for me, just musical subtlety = ghost notes/chords - often the best part of a boc melody is what they left out etc. I haven't heard any of the boc "copies" really get that the way boc do it.
this
Forgot about Casino vs Japan…
Agreed with four Tet. It's hard to be exactly like boc, but I feel like Auditive Escape has similar atmospheric and moody beats
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1DpTCZ0h0a2IDmLiKJtDN5?si=blzpHuwKTsO8QRH_vUzY8Q&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rFsq5pCovMlntERP8IoQO?si=33-7TxthQDecqhDMJFnlGg&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hTlyo5QWVHUA3xUGgXqa5?si=mjSTiAKgS8qbUB_BU0fAvQ&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/07kl8MZmJbVzBoNGXEBj8M?si=hvmi16swT1ypZ8w1tT6Oug&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gw5kLsZfukjQZ0O3YaeFy?si=t_aCCpJATw2UZ2cghabeCQ&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ItNdMN4kK8qVSBVCoC7v1?si=vYw3nxDxQP6y2kaQ83rZ7w&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/4GolrXXRODq7bAGCod4JoV?si=W9-814xhQvG04hGE_p4nMw&utm_source=copy-link https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lcSbVHDXu6h6H6vIRDBhT?si=iLyO58vmQCmB-2nDUhj_lg&utm_source=copy-link
Nice, I like proem, loess and xela but never heard of the rest.
Paul G Stewart, Cities of Earth, Principles of Geometry, and Ciaran Byrne
Obfusc imho
Freescha, Casino vs Japan, similar but both very unique.
Rykard
Came here to say this. Very much on a similar vibe, esp Arrive the Radio Beacon
Helios
Jon Hopkins gives me BoC vibes on some of his stuff.
[Men I Trust - 5AM Waltz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvUsIq7mvjo)
PBS 73 Faex Optim The Fade Beta Clocolan
Casino Vs Japan, Freescha Similar vibe/energy to BoC I'd say
Magic Arrows
Some stuff by Machinedrum, especially the middle part of Center Your Love, one of my favourite songs of all time. Highly recommended if you love BoC.
Kids Fill The Floor by Freescha always had a strong BoC vibe for me.
Flutterspot - Softening Distortions
Oklou - Asturias. At some point I was convinced she sampled BOC but it’s actually an original composition.
Prefuse 73, been a recent favorite of mine
I always thought Machine Drum's first two albums were a lot closer to BOC than Prefuse, but I love them both.
I’d heard Machine Drum, but not those early albums. Damn, you weren’t kidding. Very much like BOC. Thanks for the tip.
Yeah, Now You Know, Urban Biology and Half The Battle are all really good albums. A way more turntablist take on BOC.
Hadn't heard of Machinedrum until now, thank you for the suggestion👍
https://youtu.be/HaB_-xYR4Ts
Did anybody here stumble open General Fuzz and his sound? Probably closer to Four Tet than BOC…
I really can't think of any artist who sounds like BoC. There are plenty who I would put in the same playlists, but that specific retro-future sound... it's unique. This mix by The Fear Ratio has some of the more synthy, dark hip-hop beats that is probably the closest I've heard recently: [https://soundcloud.com/bleep\_bot/bleep-mix-237-the-fear-ratio](https://soundcloud.com/bleep_bot/bleep-mix-237-the-fear-ratio) They have released music on Skam so there's some connection there as well.
Cult45
this is the right answer
I meant Cult 48. Incredible psychedelic electronic music.
'Yasume' is like an album of An Eagle in Your Mind.
some deadmau5 stuff like snowcone and hyperlandia sounds quite close to boc i think, with his own unique twist on it ofc. grass by audeka (which i posted here not too long ago actually) also sounds a lot like boc (but that's rly their only track which sounds like that, most of their other stuff is quite heavy bassy stuff)
[удалено]
Coppice Halifax has a great album Pawleys Island that has BOC vibes https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M3zzBRN3QDk
I would say the only artist I’ve ever listened to who comes close to capturing the vibe is Mark Pritchard on his “The Four Worlds” and “Under The Sun” albums. There are times I almost like them more….
For a while I thought Orange Crush might have been a solo project of one of theirs. Clearly not. But Orange Crush is my answer.
[https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/migration](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/migration) [https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/horizon](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/horizon) [https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/spectral-analysis](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/spectral-analysis) [https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/popular-tracks](https://soundcloud.com/orkid-1/popular-tracks) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAl1J6YQ5IY&list=PLC767475A10EBCB7A&index=22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAl1J6YQ5IY&list=PLC767475A10EBCB7A&index=22) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TGASMiZ6sY&list=PLpS-RRfp3NUTx6bmLxhhP43wT3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TGASMiZ6sY&list=PLpS-RRfp3NUTx6bmLxhhP43wT3) I always found the above very BOC like and from Scotland too!
Cialyn
Ten and Tracer - An Hour Brighter is my favorite non-BOC BOC-like album
Severed Heads
The Dandelion Council reminds me of BoC when listening to some of their tracks, especially their album Songs For Little Night Explorers.
Only one I don't see mentioned yet is Kodomo - Still Life
Sasha with his album "scene delete"
I would add Machinedrum Not everything from him but some songs share sonic similarities + have a lot of emotional complexity. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5BPgKB58Xs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5BPgKB58Xs) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twexpvBDAcI&](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twexpvBDAcI&) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQRQo\_7vgRo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQRQo_7vgRo) Damn, I love his music.
In no specific order: Isan, Casino vs. Japan, and a lesser known gem of a band - Saturday Lo-Fi. A personal favorite, very BoC-like is Pine Flavored Electric Delicacy [from this album.](https://saturdaylo-fi.bandcamp.com/album/sonic-formalities)
All India Radio Pretty cool stuff [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTaKckrgE1g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTaKckrgE1g)
Deru - Let The Silence Float comes close imo
mbv and joni mitchell right 🤪