This album is on my list of "Greatest Albums Ever". When I think "trip hop" I think this album, though I suspect many would question this judgement.
It features excellent beats that ride the fine line between hip hop and drum n bass. These beats have that groovey back beat syncopation that shouts "old school funk". But also they ooze an oomph and crunchiness that one usually finds in drum n bass and other forms of electronica, yet they never descend to the crass phonic abuse and pointlessly irritating breakbeating that drum n bass so often does.
Additionally the tracks on this album feature increadible harmonic depth that somehow seems to sway between stark ice-cold beauty and warm smothering comeliness. Crusty synthesiser noises, samples from film soundtracks, and more are blended with the care, precision, and taste that one would expect from the master chefs that are Boards of Canada.
Having listend to this album a vast number of times, my recipe for a mind-melting sonic experience using this album is as follows:
Ingredients:
* One sofa, reclining chair, futon, or similar device enabling the occupation of a recumbant position in comfort for approximately 65 minutes.
* One copy of "Music Has The Right To Children" by Boards of Canada. Preferably on clean unscratched vinyl. And get a new needle for your record player.
* One good stereo power amplifer capable of at least 40 watts RMS output, and equipped with at least one pair of good quality speakers. An amplifer that was made before CDs were invented is better. Look for the presence of record player (i.e. "phono") inputs on the back of it. Trust me on this one. Also two pairs of good speakers is better then one pair.
* One quiet room with soft ambient lighting in which one feels comfortable and can be present for approximately 65 minutes without fear of disturbance.
* One quantity of marijuana or hashish, sufficient to produce a strong yet not oppressive level of stoned.
Method:
1) Arrange in the room all the other ingredients.
2) Smoke the marijuana. Wait 5-10 minutes for it to really kick in.
3) Play the album.
4) Enjoy.
Serves one person. Can be made to serve more; simply increase seating arrangements and marijuana supply as neccessary.
I find this recipe to produce a most delictable meal for the mind. I find it a blissful one hour that leaves me invigourated yet relaxed, and my mood invariably raised.
I would recommend this album to anyone who gets into DJ Shadow (he's about the only well known artist I've been listening to recently that comes to mind as producing something along the same lines).
On the lesser known front, I would compare this album (and recommend to anyone who likes it) the works of artists from Ninja Tunes and affiliated labels, in particular The Herbaliser, Neotropic, and Amon Tobin.