Banco de Gaia 'Kintsugi' Review

 

Artist:

Banco de Gaia

Title:

Kintsugi E.P.

Label:

Disco Gecko Recordings

Released:

6^th November 2020

This latest release from Toby Marks is described as a contemplative affair, full of contrasts of light and shade reflecting the turmoil in which it was made. It’s largely beat-free, which he hopes will bring a little light and peace to you in these troubled times.

The opening track ‘Floatless’ begins with the stereotypical field recording of running water, and the feeling of nature remains, with those synth voices that sound like they are pushing air. The other accompanying synths sounds utilised, have a lovely retro feel that are reminiscent of the 90’s. The second track ‘Slow Gravity’ moves away from the beat-free expectation. It’s a slow chugger that to be frank takes a little time to unfurl. However, once it does it’s a lovely eastern flavoured number, with haunting flutes, strings and ethnic vocals. There’s eerie almost ear screeching intro, with what maybe distorted bagpipes on ‘Yesterday and most of today’ In fact he packs in a fair amount to such a short piece with narrative snippets, car alarms and a saw.

Were back to those field recording staples, this time with birdsong applied to the intro of ‘All Day in Summer’. He then adds some female spoken word and slowly played piano, before the accompanying strings and ethereal vocals shine some light into the melancholy. This is the sort of track for me that is just perfect to wake up to. Then for the finale, is the title track itself which features Esbe. For those unaware Kintsugi is the Japanese method of repairing and restoring pottery. The impression I got from this ambient number is that a dark tone is set under the Japanese dialogue and then the synths and vocals represent the rays of sunshine breaking through. Most probably with the aim of the music to repair and restore.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://smarturl.it/kintsugi_ep

there is also a Live Downtempo A/V Set to celebrate the release and you can find out more info here

https://www.facebook.com/events/2813164888951401

The Magical Sounds of Banco De Gaia 20th Anniversary Edition Review

Artist: Banco De Gaia

Title: The Magical Sounds of Banco De Gaia

(20^th Anniversary Edition)

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

Released: 12^th July 2019

As with it’s predecessors in this 20^th Anniversary series this will only be released as a limited edition CD, with no digital downloads or streaming available. Once again featuring an additional disc containing re-mixes and live recordings. Although I’m familiar with a couple of tracks, this is one of the Banco De Gaia albums I didn’t pick up at the time. What strikes me about the album, is it’s more dance music orientated at times, and that world music makes an impact to some degree or another pretty much throughout. This really appeals to me generally, so I’m a bit disappointed with myself not having delved into the original release before now.

I guess what fans are eager to know is whose on re-mix duties and what they offer. The SunUnderWater mix of ‘I Love Baby Cheesy’ drops most of the spoken word samples of the original except for the repeated hook and the beat is harder. In this instance I found it’s pretty much of a muchness and I slightly favoured the original. Perpetual Loops SO mix of ‘Harvey and the Old Ones’ retains the main body of the original piece. However, the subtle touches that Charles adds lifted the track for me and I say a job well done. While Simon Power extends and transforms ‘Glove Puppet’ into a more dancefloor orientated piece. That in all fairness works out pretty well as an alternative, but personally I’m drawn more towards the original. Finally, Dr. Trippy adds his distinctive touch to ‘No Rain’ and imo it’s a killer tribal dub, in fact my favourite track of the whole album.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

http://www.discogecko.com/

Various Artists 'Strange-Eyed Constellations 2' Review

Artist: Various

Title: Strange Constellations 2

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

Released: 19^th Oct 2018

The second release in this series, which places the focus on downtempo grooves, atmospheric soundscapes and ambient moods, mixing field recordings, classical instruments and electronics. Combining artists from the Disco Gecko label, associates of Toby Marks and a few which came as a result of asking a wider audience to send in their tracks for consideration. While the artwork chosen to complement the music once again fell to Zoe Heath (possibly the wife or a relative of Andrew?)

The album begins with Simon Power a games and film soundtrack producer who has created soundscapes for none other than Doctor Who! This piece entitled ‘Immerse’ layers classical piano over spacey atmospherics and while relatively short is a wonderful intro to the album. This is suitably followed by Banco de Gaia’s ‘Pavlov’s Children’ which delivers an eerie sense of descent as the atmospheric synths transports you into a chasm of monks chants and intangible spoken samples. Next on the agenda is Halcyon Daze’s ‘Orbiting a Distant Star’ which is a more string infused piece of electronica with Clanger’esque sound fx, that never cause any disharmony to the gentle beauty of the piece.

The atmospheric mood re-emerges with Experiments in Silence ‘Cerulaen’ a side project from Spatalize (Neil Butler) I would draw comparison with Banco de Gaia, with some of the synth sounds floating alongside heavenly choral voices and chimes which blend seamlessly into the sound fx utilised, this really is an exceptional piece of work. I could be wide of the mark assuming the next track is one of the submitted pieces but I can’t say I am familiar with Project Transmission. However, I can say ‘At Dusk’ the track in question, sounds like a field recording of walking through a sodden marsh accompanied by an eerie electronic drone, while the sound of pipes entice you to follow and escape to freedom. The mood lightens somewhat and you almost sense you are stepping out of the marsh, with what I guess is the second of the submitted pieces ‘Beast from the East’ by Peter Toll. Where gentle delayed organ sounds are suitably counter-balanced with natural field recordings.

Label boss Toby Marks drops the Banco de Gaia moniker on this production ‘Sleep, Boy and Dream’ quite possibly, as it is far removed from his more groove guided world dance or ambient dub productions. Switching from gentle field recordings and spooky sound fx to electronic drones which at times times build a foreboding sense of terror. Another unfamiliar name to myself, Glenn Marshall restores the calm with a suitably ambient piece of electronica entitled ‘Spring Shade’. This is followed by a collaboration by Toby Marks and Andrew Heath, a short piece of field recordings, electronica and Andrew’s trademark piano.

The apples not falling far from the tree with the next piece ‘Falls’, again by an artist I’m personally not familiar with Phonsonic. A slow burning piece of electronica, where indistinct voices wash over the atmospheric backbone alongside the deeper bass notes. The strings employed by yet again another name I’m unfamiliar with Simon McCorry, initially provide a Celtic folk feel to ‘Anima Mechanica’, which transcends into far more of a classical piece throughout. The compilation comes to a close with ‘In the Presence of Angels’ where an aptly gentle piano and lovely guitar strings nestle in amongst the synth voices, a combination that embodies everything I love about Andrew Heath’s productions.

To summarise I don’t think this album has as much variation as it’s predecessor and in some cases may not appeal to those looking for an album of ambient dub or world music infused chill out. However, if when the mood takes me, then this is an album that appeals to me, it’s an immersive, experimental journey which I found to be very thought provoking and at times simply beautiful.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

http://www.discogecko.com/product/strangeeyedconstellations2/?mc_cid=5877c4894a&mc_eid=aad2749a47

Banco De Gaia '9th of Hearts' Review

Artist: Banco De Gaia

Title: 9^th of Hearts

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 7^th October

This release is Toby Marks A.K.A. Banco De Gaia's ninth studio album and features special guest artists, from Pink Floyd’s Dick Parry, Zero 7’s Sophie Barker, The The’s James Eller and No-Man’s Tim Bowness. The 9th of Nine Hearts is a celebration of the spark in all of us: the concept of love itself. Fusing ambient, psychedelia, art rock and acid house, each track evolves naturally into the next, with love the starting point to them all.

The album starts with 'Nine Hearts' which begins rather quietly with ambient strings and shuffling fx into somewhat of a crescendo before a gentle piano is introduced and is soon followed by the vocals of Tim Bowness which adds a slight rock opera feel to the piece and is inspired by the love in friendship. This is followed by the recent free download 'Burn The Witch' which fuses rock drumming with ambient dub and documentary spoken word.

'Warp and Weft' is a Floyd'esque slice of ambient electronica which features an ethereal vocal that adds to the calm beauty of the piece. This is followed by 'Le Foucauld' where tribal drums lead you to into an eastern bazaar and has somewhat of a celtic folk vibe to the mix to get your feet a tapping. The world fusion continues with 'No Hablo Italiano' a fusion of tribal drumming, sweet guitar licks, synths and vocal snippets which presents an overall Mediterranean feel.

The next track 'Is-Is Loves Ankh-An-Atum' sounds somewhat like footsteps through a misty port despite the obvious reference to the Egyptian deities. However, the reference soon becomes apparent with the Arabic vocals and flutes that transcends through the piece and leads us onto to more Floyd'esque sounding synths. Following on with 'And So We Dream Of Futures Lost' which begins with spoken word that leads into a deep orchestral piece of ambience with gentle piano, indistinct voices and other field recordings from nature before angelic voices are employed to complete the piece.

The album then takes a shift in direction with '91' where applause leads us into a retro sounding piece of acid house which lifts samples from early Banco cassette releases and features vocals co-written and performed by Sophie Barker. The mood then swings back to ambience with 'The Princess And The Sky Goat' which utilises birdsong amongst an eerie drone before the plodding kick drum, melodic tones (with a retro ambient dub feel reminiscent of the Orb's 'Blue Room') and Dick Parry's sax is introduced.

Following on with 'Midnight Sun' another ambient piece with ethereal vocals that brings you nicely to the closing track 'This Heart' where the piano takes centre stage over lapping waves, seagulls and indistinct chatter.

To summarise this album should appeal to fans of Toby's work in some respects it's focus is more on the ambient than the global and is very introspective. However, the quality remains and going on the live band performance at Whirl-Y-Fayre is still warmly welcomed after all these years.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Pre-order of vinyl and cd @ http://banco.co.uk/shop/

Misled Convoy 'Translations' Review

Artist: Misled Convoy

Title: Translations

Label: Dubmission Records

Released: 1^st April

This release is a selection of re-mixes from Pitch Black's Mike Hodgson under his Misled Convoy moniker, which covers a broad pallet of styles from long established and up-and-coming artists across the globe.

The album commences with the scanner mix of 'Nuerotrash' from London disco-punks Feral Five which is a dubbed out electro-rock that seems to retain all the original punk vocal elements to good effect.. While the earth will have two suns re-mix of Holotronica's (Stuart Warren Hill of Hexstatic) 'Super Nova' takes you on a journey into space tinkering with scientific monologue and bubbly electro-dub. This is followed by the borrowed time mix of 'Do You Know Where Your Going?' by Japan's Supercozi (Zen Lemonade) a chilled out dub which utilises a lyrical reggae vocal that works better when dubbed out for me.

Moving across to Mike's homeland with the next track re-working 'Please Wake Up' by the Adults a Kiwi rock supergroup formed by Shihad frontman Jon Toogood of which I am blissfully unaware. I'd never have had this down as a rock original to me it comes across something akin to the afx re-mixes of Seefeel in the early 90's which is no bad thing. Some of the previous styles meet somewhere in the middle with a dubbed out re-mix of 'Sufi' by the U.K.'s Flies + Flies which seems to stitch together elements of gothic, arabic, ambient, shoegaze and industrial dub fairly seamlessly.

The re-mix of 'Lost in the Valley of Scintalla Strings' by Sheffield's ambient audio-visual duo Animat, is a deep and atmospheric piece which combines dub techno with a cinematic and classical feel. In contrast the pastscape re-mix of Banco De Gaia's 'Wimble Toot' takes you on an elongated intro of ambient voices and sound, before the bass line is employed and the horns take the piece into the realms of dub reggae.  Then moving back across to the other side of the globe Mike then gives one of his own Misled Convoy tracks 'Leap Beneath' a re-rub in the far more expected reggae style to close.

To summarise I'm really impressed with this collection it's a real mixed bag of genres and styles at times ambient and atmospheric others industrial and rock-edged. However, the common link thread is as ever the dub.

Review by Woodzee

Links

https://misledconvoy.bandcamp.com/

Disco Gecko's 'Strange-Eyed Constellations' Compilation Review

Artist: Various

Title: Strange-Eyed 

Constellations

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 4^th Sept

Compiled by Toby Marks (Banco De Gaia) with a title inspired by a Tom Hardy poem and as tribute to Mike Barnett the founder of Beyond Records who featured some of Toby's earlier works on their Ambient Dub series.

The album begins with 'Dum Spiro, Spéro' by Astropilot, whose space style synth work I've always admired but the four by four beats he often employs can become repetitive. There's no such problem here with this beat less number which hooked me immediately with it's sheer aural elegance. This is followed by 'Sirens of Lorelei' by Dr Trippy as I've never heard him before. Admittedly, there's an ethnic element to the track which increases in the middle but either side throws a sheet of angelic voices and flutes over a snail pace beat. The theme of mixing angelic voices and tribal chants continues with 'The Inuit Snow Song' by 100^th Monkey a superbly chilled psychedelic dub and by this point I'm tipping my hat at Toby's fabulous selections.

The looped sequences that kick off 'The Future's Bright the Future's Incandescent' by Radium88 immediately brought Fluke and Underworld to mind (albeit with the brakes on) upon which an ethereal vocal leads to a more eastern flavour and you'd be hard pressed to find a more chilled vocal than this. The mood turns slightly darker with a combination of eerie atmospherics and tribal beats with 'Floating World' by Spatialize but the light shines through the darkness with some lovely strings. This theme of light and dark continues with a Far East drone fusion with the Shanghai 8am mix of 'Falling Tides' by the man himself and surprisingly not under his Banco De Gaia moniker.

I'm not sure you can go much slower than the dreamy tribal dub 'Festival of Lights' by Oombata Key. Whilst the tempo is taken up a notch with 'Dimensions' by Temple Hedz this piece initially layered with guru monologue and complemented further with a lovely eastern vocal is still more than suitably chilled. Moving towards a more experimental direction with 'Project Transmissions' by The Heavenly Hundred combines soft gentle piano with fuzzy atmospherics and distorted orchestral tweaks.

Back under his Banco De Gaia pseudonym 'To the Nth Degree' threatens to bring an uplifting surge with it's opening tribal chorus but soon dips down into soothing ambience with field recordings and piano. 'It's Beautiful Mike, It Really Is' by James Eller is a wonderful combination of NASA transmissions, spacey fx and piano. Although, he may not be the first to utilise this theme with the samples it works superbly well. 'Penates' by Sam Salem drifts back to the eerie atmospheric tribal drones of some of the previous tracks and leads us to the climax 'Epiphany' by Andrew Heath where once again the piano takes centre stage in a beautifully gentle melodic piece.

To summarise as with many compilations some tracks appeal more than others. However, there are some really strong tracks on here for me and I can't say I particularly dislike any of them. The years not over yet but for me this has to be a contender for ambient album of 2015. Full marks to Mr Marks so to speak and hopefully this isn't the last we hear of his selections.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

http://banco.co.uk/

http://www.discogecko.com/

Pre-Order here https://discogecko.bandcamp.com/album/strange-eyed-constellations

Artist: Banco De Gaia

Title: Last Train To Lhasa

20^th Anniversary Edit

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

Released: 14^th Feb on Bandcamp &

30^th March Elsewhere

Following last year's release of the 20^th Anniversary Edition of 'Maya' comes this little re-mix e.p. containing the original and a number of modern re-mixes as a pre-cursor for a non-digital 20^th Anniversary release of the album. For me 'Shanti' is my all-time favourite Banco track and would sit highly among my top ambient tracks ever. That said this track is still a stunning piece of work which contained all the right ingredients at the time and still appeals to me today.

This release begins with the original it's not the first time the sound of the train has been utilised in electronica (I doubt it will be the last). Kraftwerk's 'Trans-Europe Express' and even more importantly 'Metal on Metal' instantly springs to mind. But while that provided an industrial feel to a European journey Banco creates the setting of a steamy jungle excursion ascending into the mountains of Tibet. As I mentioned previously all the right ingredients are here with an infectious electronic sequence, flutes and eastern vocals layered over a chugging train which is perfect for laying back and casting the minds eye and yet danceable enough for the early hours.

First up on the re-mix duties is Altar Records, Astropilot who takes the track further into an ambient space with a trance like approach. Just as this version starts to get mundane a subtle but effective percussion is added. However, ongoing this version doesn't hold my attention. Although, obviously work well in a ambient trance/space music set and may well appeal to others.

This is followed by an edit which emphasises the train and vocals and although the other ingredients follow, it has a less danceable approach than the original. All in all, it's a good alternative imo especially for slotting into a chill out set.

Slinder whose bootleg version of Banco's 'Heliopolis' brought him to the attention of Disco Gecko, takes the track to the dancefloor with a progressive house twist. Initially I found his take a little repetitive but it grew on me in the latter half after a lush breakdown.

Finally (and exclusive to bandcamp) is the eighteen minute long 'Very Extended Ambient Mix' which as the title suggests prolongs the journey for the long haul traveller. Utilising all those luscious ingredients with stretches, reverb and the occasional swoosh. Very nice indeed and at £3 for the whole release it's money well spent.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

https://bancodegaia.bandcamp.com/

http://www.discogecko.com/

International Observer 'Touched' Review

Artist: International Observer

Title: Touched

Label: Dubmission Records

Released: August 2014

This release is a re-mix compilation of other artists by International Observer as opposed to his solo productions. A fair few of them I already had but as always for those fans of International Observer (or indeed dub reggae in general) who haven't, you may well be interested in what this release has to offer.

The album starts with Tom's Doordashan mix of Bic Runga's 'Drive' and I'm not familiar with the original. However, what I can ascertain is this version is a well polished production that combines a mellow female vocal, the kind you'd expect to accompany a trip-hop piece, while the music floats between melodic chill and a deep raga dub.

The next track sticks with the Indian vibe with a re-mix of Bombay Dub Orchestra's 'Monsoon Malabar'. The strings are stretched both beautifully and perfectly alongside vocal echoes and bamboo flutes. I like this piece a lot ... perfect hammock music.

The next three tracks take the emphasis away from the East and straight back to Jamacia with a retro 70's feel. Pitch Black's '1000 Mile Drift' for example is a smoky chilled out dub. While Warp Technique's 'Nowhere Dub' gets given a re-rub which is reminiscent in style of some of the early dub pioneers and the Black Seeds 'Come To Me' has a slow ska feel dotted with old skool dub fx.

Minimal Compacts 'Autumn Leaves' is another track where I'm not familiar with the original. This Oak Tree dub contains stereo-typical dubbed out reggae keys that chug along quite nicely with the odd vocal injection and a little horn. While the International Observer meets Horace re-work of Pitch Blacks classic electro-dub 'Lost In Translation' has always been a great alternative, stripping it back to a lush melodic acoustic.

Stellar's 'Slack Bastard' once again throws any comparison to the original into the wind as far as I'm concerned. As with Bic Runga I'd hazard a guess from the female vocal that's it's a trip-hop original, either way it's a lovely slow bouncy dub with some male vocal stabs injected here and there. While the Monkey Forest dub of Banco De Gaia's 'Oreia' transports you to the Far East in a spiritual dub fashion you'd expect but with a definite International Observer stamp.

Once more with the last two tracks I have no knowledge of the originals. The Daddy Dub of Tapes 'Lowry Dub' combines a retro feel with off-key pitch bends, a fair few fx and a squelchy plod throughout. Then we finish with an alternative of where we started with the Interstellar Underpass mix of Bic Rungas 'Drive' which this time is served up in a spacey instrumental drum & bass stylee.

To summarise this release has been a combination of new delights and wonderful refreshers for me and I'd highly recommend a listen. Especially to lovers of dub reggae who aren't familiar with these releases at all.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links:

http://dubmissionrecords.blogspot.co.uk/

http://internationalobserver.bandcamp.com/

'Desert Dwellers - Nomadic Ecstatic: The Wandering Re-mixes Vol. 1' Review

Artist:

Desert Dwellers

Release: 
Nomadic Ecstatic:

The Wandering Re-mixes Vol 1

Label: 
Black Swan Sounds

Release Date:
29^th April 2014

The Desert Dwellers have been quite active on the release front this year and this five track re-mix single could be construed by some as more of the same re-jigged. For me personally I think they are going from strength to strength from the laid back bamboo flutes and tablas of the 'Downtemple Dub' series to the bass re-mixes of the 'Re-Calibrated' albums and the psy-filled grooves of their Twisted Records release 'Seeing Things' I'm lapping it up.

On this release I think there's a strong selection of tracks with re-mixes from the U.K.'s veteran of global ambient dub Banco De Gaia and two of America's world fusion aficionados Jeff Stott and Drumspyder* as well as a couple of new names to me Kaleidoscope Jukebox and Chaos Control.

The release begins with Drumspyder's take on 'Wandering Sadhu' which on the whole bounces between the dum tek of the darbuka and low frequency bass. Once the vocals join in it's quite a happy little groove that chugs along nicely enough with a few variable breakdowns on route.

Next up is Kaleidoscope Jukebox's re-mix of 'Saraswati Mata' I usually plump for the Adham Shaikh re-mix but kept an open mind when pressing play. I certainly wasn't disappointed as this version retains the vocals and eastern strings with plenty of dub reggae chords and echo that you can easily delve into.

Banco De Gaia's re-work of 'Shiva Nataraj' provides a lovely elongated synth journey that carries you on a space like under-current beneath the tablas and Nicole Jenson's vocals. Having heard an abundance of re-works of his own material it made a pleasant change to hear his imprint on someone else's building blocks again,

Jeff Stott brings us back to the 'Wandering Sadhu' again this take is lighter in places retaining more of the bamboo flute than Drumspyders. It's still bass music but in more of a teasing manner and also provides some nice percussion of it's own. Although, I generally like both artists this one strikes more of a chord with me.

Last but not least is Chao's Control's re-work of 'Mysterious Presence' which begins with a lovely spacey synth, chimes and vocals and although they inject the odd psy flutter the laid back feel is retained when the percussion and sitar joins in. Perfect temple vibes for the hammock.

Review by Woodzee

Links: http://desertdwellersmusic.bandcamp.com/album/nomadic-ecstatic-the-wandering-remixes-vol-1

* Fans of Drumspyder should keep an eye out for a couple of other new releases 'Mountain Drums' on the Luminosity Projects 'Lumineyez Vol 1' and 'Bayati Violet Dub' on Phantasm Records 'Anti Particle'

Banco De Gaia "Maya 20th Anniversary Edition"

Artist: Banco De Gaia

Album: Maya

20^th Anniversary Edition

Label: Disco Gecko Records

Release Date: Feb 28^th 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 100^th 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.

Links

http://www.banco.co.uk/

You may also like the Banco De Gaia special of Ambient Music Guide's Mike G's Radio Show the Cosmic Lounge.

http://www.mixcloud.com/mikeg68/the-cosmic-lounge-043-hosted-by-mike-g/