Artist:
Banco De Gaia
Album:
Maya
20th
Anniversary Edition
Label:
Disco Gecko Records
Release
Date: Feb 28th 2014
A
bit late with this one. But as they say better late than never. This
special edition will be released as a triple cd package only. Limited
to 1500 copies and not available to stream or download.
Originally
released in February 1994 on the Planet Dog label, Maya reached No1
in the independent charts in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury
Music Prize.
Disc
One contains the original album, which mixes beautiful textures,
soaring melodies and slamming grooves with sounds from the far
corners of the world as airy breaks and beats ripple against a
backdrop of Asian and other ethnic influences.
Disc
Two features mainly unreleased alternative mixes of the album,
including a live version of Sunspot, recorded for the John Peel
Sessions, and the original full 22 minute mix of Shanti.
Disc
Three is predominantly remixes and features a brand new mix of
Mafichi Arabi by Temple Hedz, as well as versions by Eat Static,
100th Monkey & Mr Noisy and Veloce.
I
never actually brought a copy of Maya at the time. However, I came
across Banco De Gaia on what was for me a landmark compilation from
Beyond Records “Ambient Dub Vol 2”. I'd already leaned towards
more chilled Balearic no's in the late 80's and was listening to a
lot of reggae, psychedelic rock, progressive house and techno at the
time.
This
album did something I hadn't really come across before combining
ambient sounds with the Roland TB-303 which instantly appealed to
me. However, there were also two tracks that had a cinematic, global
edge to them. These tracks (if you didn't know already, you've
probably guessed) were from the album “Maya”. The track “Shanti”
was and still is one of my favourite all-time chill out tracks and too
be honest I really can't see that changing.
Shortly
after, I also brought a video that featured what was considered state
of the art 3-D C.G.I. at the time, with a soundtrack featuring some
of the artists from the Beyond compilations, as well as the Future
Sound of London, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno and of course Banco De Gaia. I
then caught a live show at a Mega-Dog event and was blown away, so
eagerly purchased a cassette only release “Freeform Flutes and
Fading Tibetans”. All in all I can't compare all the re-mixes one
hundred percent as some of the tracks have only reached my ears of
late. However, I shall give it a go.
I'll
start with Gamelah where Dub 3 was featured on the original an
alternative Dub 1 and a live version are also featured here. Dub 1
seems to combine the sounds of the Eastern bazaar with tribal
drumming that you could easily imagine is being performed by a drum
troupe. Dub 3 starts in a gentler fashion but as it progresses has a
lot more going and has the edge for me.
Mafich
Arabi begins in a psychedelic manner with indistinct voices and
digeridoo before the African vocals join and the beat kicks in (and
I'm beginning to feel I missed out not purchasing Maya at the time).
Also included on this release is the original demo and a new re-hash
by Templehedz. I have to say Paul's done an a sterling job, retaining
the didge intro and a lot of the vocals he's lifted the tempo and
energy resulting in a global dancefloor monster.
Sunspot
I guess epitomises Ambient Dub in the way the synth loops rotate
through the track, but it doesn't end there add some gypsy violin,
tribal drum rolls and scientific vocal samples and you should get a
feel of a track. Argue or debate if you will, but I suspect tracks
like this set the building blocks and probably inspired much of what
we hear in the psy-chill tracks that followed in later years. This
release also includes a live Peel session and a new re-mix by 100th
Monkey & Mr Noisy whose take flickers between orchestral dance
and tribal rhythms with some lush dubby sequences along the way.
Heliopolis
begins with a combination of rainforest field recordings, whale song
and acidy synth loops which is is soon joined by sweeping vocals and
housey elements and is a track I well remember from the time. Also
included on this release are the Aethereal and Veloce re-mixes. The
former adds a more chanty, slightly harder and repetitive take which
doesn't really do it for me, while the latter gets dubbier and more
acidic which I quite like. However, the original is the one for me.
Qurna
(Mister Christian on the decks) begins with a mixture of natural
field recordings and synth sequences, a lovely chilled number not a
million miles away from Shanti, which then transcends into the bazaar and
back. I for one would not start a mutiny here and there's an
additional live version and Hah Ali's Birthday Mix a slow paced and
suitably chilled alternative.
Sheesha
begins with helicopter and submarine sounds laid under psychedelic and
military rhetoric, while the music clashes ambient synths and harder
edged techy acidic sounds. This is the weakest track for me, not in
the sense there isn't a lot going on, as there is. I just found it
created an edgy mood in places, as opposed to a peaceful ambience
I'd relate to a Sheesha pipe. I didn't find the Green Tractor mix any
better, but then that's hardly surprising considering my stance on
the source material.
Now
I've arrived at Shanti and have to consider the Black Mountain
version that became my pedestal of ambience was not the original Red
& White Spots version on Maya. Also included on this release is
the full 22 minute original and a live version. In all fairness no
matter how you dress it up or which version I select to play the core
of this tune is always going to make me blissfully happy.
Similarly
the version of Lai Lah on the Ambient Dub compilation was the Deeply
Sirus mix recorded live at Club Dog as opposed to the Version
1.Infinity mix on Maya. However, I also have this on another
compilation and have always liked both. Also included here are the
Marine Mix and a Kitchen Sink mix by then label mate Eat Static. The
former begins more dark, brooding and tribally percussive, dubbing
the seagull samples which I guess give the mix it's name? All in all
an interesting alternative. The latter retains all the quality of the
original with a more thumping dancefloor orientated vibe with some
wonderful oud and tribal samples you won't find in the original.
Finally
we reach the title track, where for some reason there is only the one
version. Bearing in mind I've never heard it before I found that
quite odd. Admittedly, it doesn't rank as my favourite track but at
the same time it's more than listenable.
There's
also a couple of bonus tracks. Firstly the Blue Mix original of
Soufie (a track that featured on the aforementioned video, cassette
and on Beyond Records Ambient Dub Vol 1) a slower paced version which
mimics the original with a lovely piano, haunting strings and
operatic vocals. I loved the original but this is a very nice
alternative. The other is Data Inadequate recorded live at Club Dog
and a track I'm not familiar with. Beginning with vocal samples,
choral synths and eerie sci-fi sounds before becoming more dance
orientated.
To
summarise I'd imagine any fan of Banco De Gaia has already ordered a
copy and if you haven't you really should. In my opinion this is a
must buy for all fans of global tinged ambient dub.
Review
by Woodzee.
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