IDM Mailing Archive

Re: Kincajou and live performances: Seofon wrote:

quoted 7 lines I agree with Andrew's observation that the Banco live show was fantastic.

>I agree with Andrew's observation that the Banco live show was fantastic. > >However, I have to say that (IMHO) Banco's best work, hands down, appears >on the Ambient Dub compilations originaly released on Beyond. Well worth >tracking down for the original mixes of "Desert Wind" and "Shanti". The >two albums I have found rather disappointing, really, although they have >their moments.

The Ambient Dub CDs that Seofon is referring to are Ambient Dub Volume 1 (Desert Wind) and ADV2 (Shanti) [these CDs are available through mail order from Beyond Records]. My favorite, hands down, is Ambient Dub Volume 1. That is where you will find Banco De Gaia's "Soufie". By far, it is Toby Marks' best work. A very close second to that is "Qurna (haj ali's birthday mix)", which can be found on Feed Your Head and Transmissions From Planet Dog [these CDs are readily available in well stocked record stores near you]. The *only* thing that I found disappointing in BDG's album "Maya" is that the recording itself sounds a bit _flat_. Otherwise, Toby had come a long way from his album "Freeform Flutes and Fading Tibetans" [Cassette only and not available anywhere]. I would also compare "Maya" to "Medium", but I don't have that cassette. I think it would be safe to say that Toby had moved mountains with the release of "Maya". It is a well structured album. When Toby released "Last Train To Lhasa", people were saying "it's supposed to be an album with deeply rooted political meaning, but I just don't get it." <sigh!> I won't enter the debate here, because it was done to death long ago and Toby made his point loud and clear. But on the musical side of the album, it is a rather nice collection of danceable tunes. The album is structurally solid and well recorded. I even have a copy of that VERY hard to get third CD. Of course, it's not for the faint-hearted as the tracks last *forever*. I like listening to this third CD when I'm out for a long walk (am I dancing or walking? Follow me and decide for yourself). It's also good for those commutes home via train, plane, bus or car. Banco De Gaia's latest release is "Live at Glastonbury". This, of course, is VERY danceable. Whenever Toby performs, he does all of his upbeat dancy tracks (I'll *never* get to hear "Soufie" live). You can find lots of his samples (new and old) coming through clearly on this album and he even gives us a taste of the crowd so we, the listeners, can feel as though we are there amongst the throngs of happy campers at the festival. Like Toby says himself, "We have tried to capture the spirit of the occasion rather than achieve technical perfection." The "spirit" of the festival is alive and well. Final thought: I really enjoy Banco De Gaia's music. I don't find myself hitting the skip button like I do for so many other artist's albums. You can call it IDM, Ambient or a few other labels. I'll just call it "Pure Entertainment Value." --Anne _____________________________________________________________________________ "Last Train To Lhasa" is a Tibetan prayer wheel. If you spin it, you're sending out a prayer. ***SAVE TIBET***