Boards of Canada's Music Used in White House Nationalist Video: A Bizarre Co-option
The White House's use of Boards of Canada's 'Deep Time' in a promotional video for U.S. nationalism sparks controversy, leading to a denouncement from Warp Records.
Last night, the social media accounts of President Trump’s White House posted their latest promotional video for U.S. nationalism. The eerie footage of windblown flags, detention centers, and a border patrol boat came with an unlikely soundtrack: Boards of Canada’s “Deep Time,” the song from new album Inferno that was initially released as “Tape 05.”
Now, the reclusive Scottish duo’s label, Warp, has released a simple statement denouncing the video: “Warp Records and Boards of Canada do not condone the unauthorised use of their music for political messaging.”
In a further bizarre co-option, the White House’s video team adopted the staticky, VHS-style aesthetic associated with Boards of Canada; “Tape 05” itself was initially mailed to fans on VHS, and the videos for follow-up tracks “Introit” and “Prophecy at 1420 MHz” had a similar look—as well as some sinister imagery of cultlike figures.
Inferno, the duo’s first album in 13 years, is out tomorrow.
Jazz Monroe is a music and culture writer based in London. His work also appears in The Guardian, The Independent, and elsewhere.
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