Boards of Canada Send Mysterious VHS Tapes to Fans

Boards of Canada appear to be teasing a return after a number of fans reported receiving mysterious VHS tapes through distribution channels linked to their longtime label, Warp Records, and its retail arm, Bleep.

The development came to light on April 7, 2026, as fans began posting on Reddit and the fan forum Twoism. According to reports, the tapes arrived randomly in the mail, with one recipient noting the package came from the same address used by Warp and Bleep for shipping within the United States.

The physical tapes are emblazoned with a design featuring seven hexagons, a symbol closely associated with the Scottish duo. The content of the tapes consists of decaying analogue visuals, shortwave-style audio, and fragments of layered vocal samples.

The audio from the tapes has since been ripped and uploaded online, and a listing for the promotional VHS has appeared on Discogs, attributed to Warp Records.

Fan Analysis and Speculation

The release of the footage has triggered extensive analysis from the community. Listeners have attempted to decode obscured phrases, symbolic imagery, and bursts of frequency-shift keying data embedded in the audio. Some fans have identified manipulated samples that resemble material from the duo’s Societas x Tape, which was recorded for NTS in 2019, alongside processed and reversed vocal elements.

Speculation among fans suggests that multiple tapes may be in circulation. This approach mirrors the cryptic pre-release campaigns the duo has used in the past, such as the augmented reality game involving six numeric codes that preceded the release of their 2013 album, Tomorrow’s Harvest.

Because the branding features seven hexagons, some observers speculate that the campaign may be signaling a seventh album. Other theories suggest the tapes could be teasing an archival reissue campaign or a box set rollout potentially timed for Record Store Day.

Context of the Duo’s Activity

If these tapes are confirmed as a precursor to new music, it would mark the first new material from Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin in over a decade. Their last full-length album, Tomorrow’s Harvest, was released in 2013.

Boards of Canada has a history of unconventional release methods. Their second album, Geogaddi, was released in February 2002 without any pre-release copies being distributed, appearing suddenly on release schedules.

More recently, the duo’s work appeared on the Warp Records ‘WXAXRXP Sessions’ 10xLP box set in 2019, but they have remained largely dormant since that period.

Warp Records has not commented on the speculation regarding the VHS tapes, and representatives for the group have not provided a statement to Resident Advisor.