...That's right, the answer is Maths.

March 9, 2006 5:26 PM

Man, I love me some Gelg... too bad it isn't a real band. Is there anyone who makes music that sounds a lot like what was in the first season of Look Around You?

I can think of similar music (such as Boards of Canada and the associated Christ, Solvent, +One, and Plaid) but none of it is really right -- it is either too ambient or too complex or has too much of a rhythm. I want music that sounds like it was made on an computer or an old science show (or, alternatively, like it was made on a computer for an old nature show of Canadian origin). Is there music out there like this?

posted by The Bishop of Turkey to media & arts (10 comments total)

Bogdan Raczynski

See also.
posted by meehawl at 5:53 PM on March 9, 2006

It seems like there are parts of what I want in Raczynski's music, but it is too glitch or drum and bass for what I am looking for.
posted by The Bishop of Turkey at 6:10 PM on March 9, 2006

Maybe Plone? They have the right beeping and blooping, but may be a bit fast.
I'm guessing you don't want just old school computer music, such as that produced by 8 bit peoples.
Maybe some old Wendy Carlos, try Switched on Bach, which is 1968 synth reconstitution of classical music, and some original compositions in this vein.
Of course, if you can find it Rephlex released a compilation of music from the BBC radiophonic workshop a while ago.
posted by scodger at 9:14 PM on March 9, 2006

I'm keen on Tycho. It sounds like you might like them, too.
posted by jgee at 9:39 PM on March 9, 2006

wow. tycho == boards of canada. well, nothing could be like BoC, really, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. i think i will check them (him?) out.
posted by joeblough at 11:35 PM on March 9, 2006

You might want to check Delia Derbyshire. She worked at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in the 60s. Her contemporaries might be worth checking out too. Some of the music they produced is atonal and experimental, but some is chirpy and cheerful. Very little could be described as being as happy as the Look Around You theme, although the BBCRW did do a lot of TV music.

You might want to trawl around the net for old TV theme tunes. I'd suggest tv.cream.org as a good starting point. I reckon though that very few of them will be what you're looking for, since the Look Around You theme is influenced by the 60s and 70s, rather than actually being a product of it.
posted by ajp at 3:49 AM on March 10, 2006

Yeah, seconding that wow for Tycho -- that "Sunrise Projector" song is about spot on. Hell, even if it wasn't, I'm always up for finding out about music that is anything like BoC. Anymore bands like this that I've probably missed?

Likewise, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop stuff does sound pretty good. Don't know how I forgot about Plone, though.

Thanks for the answers so far. And for the record, ajp -- it isn't just the theme of Look Around You that I like, it is all of the music of the first season.
posted by The Bishop of Turkey at 6:42 AM on March 10, 2006

I realize this is off-topic to the main question, but you should get Tides by Arovane. I wouldn't say it's obviously like BoC, but it has a similar feel.
posted by O9scar at 2:33 PM on March 10, 2006

well, before orkut completely turned into Brazil, i managed to get a couple of recs from the BoC group there: Marumari and Casino Vs. Japan. apparently Marumari's style varies a lot, but the album i have is called Supermogadon, and i like it a lot. the CvJ disc i have is called "Whole Numbers Play the Basics" and it has survived multiple listenings as well.

also there's Manitoba (Dan Snaith), who had to change his name to Caribou because of some stupid lawsuit, or threat thereof, from this guy.

i really like Manitoba's "Up in Flames" but i was not into the first Caribou album at all ("The Milk of Human Kindness")
posted by joeblough at 2:40 PM on March 10, 2006

also, HOW IS IT THAT I ALWAYS FIND OUT ABOUT NEW BANDS JUST WEEKS AFTER THEY HAVE PLAYED IN SF?! i just noticed tycho played feb 22.

sorry for yelling, but... this is like the only recurring theme in my life and it sucks!
posted by joeblough at 2:42 PM on March 10, 2006