In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country

In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country is an EP by Scottish electronic music duo Boards of Canada. It was released by Warp and music70 on 27 November 2000, in the period between the duo's albums Music Has the Right to Children and Geogaddi. Like those albums, it was well received by critics.^[3][4] It peaked at number 15 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.^[5] Originally pressed on blue vinyl, the vinyl version of the EP was reissued on black vinyl in 2013.^[6]

In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country
EP by Boards of Canada
Released	27 November 2000 (2000-11-27)
Studio	Hexagon Sun Studio, Scotland
Genre	IDM[1] downtempo[2]
Length	24:04
Label	Warp music70
Producer	Marcus Eoin Michael Sandison
Boards of Canada chronology
Peel Session (1999) In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country (2000) Geogaddi (2002)

Background

The four-track collection centers around the theme of the Branch Davidian religious sect and their Waco retreat. The title of the EP refers to a vocoder-processed and slowed voice sample used on the third track, which repeats "come out and live in a religious community in a beautiful place out in the country." This line was spoken by Amo Bishop Roden,^[4] after whom the second track is named, in an interview for the Mysteries, Magic & Miracles TV series. Amo Bishop Roden, the widow of David Koresh rival George Roden, reoccupied the Waco site after its destruction, sleeping in a ditch near the property until federal authorities who had been keeping her away finally abandoned it.^[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[10]
Muzik	5/5[11]
Pitchfork	8.9/10[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[13]

According to Metacritic, In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country received an average score of 78 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[8]

In 2017, Pitchfork placed it at number 12 on its list of "The 50 Best IDM Albums of All Time".^[1] Writing for Pitchfork, Ben Cardew said, "this four-song release stands as its own beast, the pinnacle of the Scottish duo's ability to soundtrack the moment when ecstasy succumbs to doubt."^[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Marcus Eoin and Michael Sandison.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kid for Today"	6:23
2.	"Amo Bishop Roden"	6:16
3.	"In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country"	6:07
4.	"Zoetrope"	5:18

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

• Marcus Eoin – writing, production
• Michael Sandison – writing, production
• Hexagon Sun – artwork, photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Chart (2001–02)	Peak position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[14]	22
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[5]	15

Year-end charts

2001 year-end chart performance for In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Chart (2001)	Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[15]	63

2002 year-end chart performance for In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Chart (2002)	Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[16]	90