Principles of Geometry: Principles of Geometry
Tigersushi

What group is suggested by the description 'dense, analog interweaves of glowing synths and chiseled IDM- and hip-hop-styled beats'? The answer, naturally, is 'Boards of Canada' but had you said 'Principles of Geometry' you'd be equally correct. In fact, so thoroughly does Boards of Canada's sound permeate Principles of Geometry's eponymous debut that probably every review of the album will mention the influential Warp duo at least once; the bass throbs, firefly electronics, and squelchy beats in the opener “Arp Center” and voiceover in “Hcm6a” literally sound hijacked from Music Has the Right to Children, and even the seaside photo adorning the Principles of Geometry album cover indirectly references BOC. And that's not the only influence one hears, as the specters of Autechre, Fünkstorung, and Vangelis (the dramatic synth treatments on “901”) also haunt Principles of Geometry's work.

Still, if the music produced by the bearded twosome from France's northern city Lille is less than unique, that doesn't negate the refined programming heard throughout this finely crafted, 37-minute debut. The group's strengths are showcased in the impressive second piece, the almost eight-minute “Kopöb Ingo.” The initial focus is percussive with minimal funk syncopations sweetened by sparse bass hits and timpani accents but midway through the group adds chiming synths and piano patterns to boost the piece cinematically. Similarly, “Wendy Forest” is distinguished by the tactile textures heard amidst its synth smears and wipes, plus hip-hop beats and an MC's presence push the track slightly afield of BOC. In fact, elsewhere Principles of Geometry sounds more kin to Spezial Material groups HP. Stonji and Intricate, and that's certainly no bad thing. The pairing of a pretty, wistful piano theme with hip-hop beats and chopped voices in “Omagh” evokes the hip-hoptronic style Intricate pursues so satisfyingly on In Pectra, while a blindfold test would liken the stuttering beats and dense electronics in “Eliot's Sketchbook” to HP. Stonji. Putting all that together makes Principles of Geometry strong in quality but weak in originality.

April 2005