akrotiri wrote: Basefree wrote: And to add, I don't think 'retro' even suits Boards, but I might be biased because that word means so degenerate things to me.



I agree. Can someone explain to me why people say BoC is "retro"? Their synths sound nothing like the ones you'd hear in the 70s or 80s. Way too smooth, calming, etc. Not sharp and jagged square/triangles like most stuff was. I agree. Can someone explain to me why people say BoC is "retro"? Their synths sound nothing like the ones you'd hear in the 70s or 80s. Way too smooth, calming, etc. Not sharp and jagged square/triangles like most stuff was.

I think the best way to describe what they do, especially early in their career, was to use synths the way other instruments were used in the 70s, so you get the mellow/warm sound of that era, but using an instrument that while it existed back then, didn't quite sound like that, but has evolved over time to be capable of fitting in better with the sound of that time period, if that makes sense.So to me, it's fair to say it's retro by means of newer technology. Of course the artwork/video they utilized went a long way toward cementing their retro status. We can't forget the intangible - the secret sauce that seems to be able to so effectively evoke nostalgia in people for different reasons.With TCH and the addition of guitars to the mix, they kept that sort of sound, but started using instrumentation that fit in with that time period better, maybe that's why some people weren't feeling it - it sounded like regular mellow 70s music at times.Now that TH has come along, it really is a little more truly retro, but from a slightly later era and it might not do much for certain fans. It sounds like early 80s soundtrack music.I think maybe with the last 2 releases (I like TCH and love TH) is that the nostalgic aspect is a lot more specific than it used to be, so maybe it's not as relatable for everyone.There was a universality to what they were doing early in their career, especially in their material from 1995-2000 or so. The songs could mean different things to different people but the consensus seemed to be that they were touching on something that felt very special - "the feels" and all that.I think starting with Geogaddi their full lengths have all been very concept oriented and from interviews it sounds like there is a lot of babies being thrown out with the bathwater when they come up with a tune that doesn't seem to match what they are going for. If the concept in question isn't relevant to you, maybe the album won't do much for you. I'd like them to not overthink their next album and go with instinct and come up with a group of songs that just hang well together without any sort of underlying narrative.Honestly having been following them for 15 years, every release since and including Geogaddi has been subject to sniping from people who didn't feel the latest and greatest fit into their view of how they are "supposed" to sound. I think some people just want them to press a MHTRTC or Geogaddi soundalike button in their studio over and over again.