Twoism

Twoism
EP by Boards of Canada
Released	August 1995
Recorded	Summer of 1995
Genre	Downtempo, Ambient techno
Length	36:37
Label	Music70 BOARD1
Producer	Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin
Boards of Canada chronology
Hooper Bay (1994) Twoism (1995) Boc Maxima (1996)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Blender	[2]
Pitchfork Media	(7.0/10)[3]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[4]

Twoism is an EP released by Boards of Canada on their own Music70 record label in 1995. It was a self-financed cassette and record distributed privately. Major public releases would not happen until 1996's Hi Scores EP on Skam Records. This album was, however, the work which got them noticed by Skam Records. In 2002, this EP was reissued on vinyl and CD by Warp Records.

There are differences between "Sixtyniner" on this EP and other releases. (Boards of Canada have often re-released early songs on later, more popular releases, sometimes with changes.)

Before Twoism was re-pressed years later, it was a highly sought-after item, being pressed only about 100 times. It would often be exchanged from one person to the next for around £800 (US$1500).^[5]

Twoism is the only widely available Boards of Canada release with early third member Chris Horne, who was credited (as Chris H.) on the original release. However, his name was omitted on the 2002 Warp re-released version at his own request. According to credits from Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency he only co-wrote "Melissa Juice".

The channels are reversed on the CD reissue compared to the original vinyl EP. This can also be noted on the tracks "Seeya Later" and "Smokes Quantity", which have the channels reversed compared to their appearances on Hi Scores and Music Has the Right to Children respectively.

"Smokes Quantity" includes the hidden track "1986 Summer Fire" at the end.

Artwork

The album cover is taken from the 1980 film The Killings at Outpost Zeta.

The first pressing of the CD from Warp Records was on a black CD, similar to original PlayStation discs, and included a sticker with the yellow Boards of Canada logo on it. The barcode on the CD's digipack was also an easily removable sticker.

Reception

About the reissue of "Twoism" Allmusic said:

"Excepting only the rigid drum monster "Basefree" (which sounds a bit like Aphex Twin circa 1992), Twoism features the same exquisitely spooky, textured emotronica that fans will want to hear, all at as high a level as the brilliant Music Has the Right to Children to boot."

Track listing

1. "Sixtyniner" – 5:17
2. "Oirectine" – 5:11
3. "Iced Cooly" – 2:22
4. "Basefree" – 6:35
5. "Twoism" – 6:06
6. "Seeya Later" – 4:33
7. "Melissa Juice" – 1:32
8. "Smokes Quantity" – 3:10
9. "1986 Summer Fire" – 1:36 (Unlisted on the sleeve notes)

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Blender review
3. Pitchfork Media review
4. Tiny Mix Tapes review
5. Matthew Walton (2002). "Scottish Duo Re-release Their Ultra Rare Seminal Debut". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2006-11-26.