Album Review: Boards Of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest

Seven years is a long time. From Boards Of Canada's first releases in the mid-1990s up until their seemingly undeclared recording hiatus in 2006, the Scottish duo had pretty consistently been releasing albums, EPs and miscellany compilations. So to call Tomorrow's Harvest, the forth 'proper' full-length from the ambient techno masters, a highly anticipated 2013 release, is greatly understating.

In what would be considered inauspicious for other bands, Tomorrow's Harvest shuffles into life with truly ambient Gemini and lead single Reach For The Dead. The lush, tense build-up of the two songs showcase the band's classic brand of restrained electronica – when it finally does give way to the effortless groove of the chiptune style 'dance' break, it's both a blessing and reminder of why Boards Of Canada are as loved as they are.

From there we are given some of the most outright 'house' music of the band's career, with a deep and throbbing low end brought to the fore in many tracks. This isn't necessarily a new Boards Of Canada, but it is a new side to them. Jacquard Causeway, an early album highlight, is driven by a playfully intrusive metallic beat that allows the duo to skirt around rhythms in the high end, dancing in and out of the foreground. It's not something that would be at home on many albums, but it's gorgeous here.

Don't think this is a 'club' Boards Of Canada though – the problem, if there is one, is that the album is actually too obviously a Boards Of Canada album. Is it foolish to expect a drastic change after such a wait? Or should be we happy the band are still making brilliant music. Online arguments are assured, but this is indeed brilliant music.