Banco de Gaia
Encyclopedia
Banco de Gaia is an electronic music
band
from England
, formed in 1989 by Toby Marks (born 1964, South London
).
The music of Banco de Gaia is best categorized as ambient dub, but Marks works to cross genres, often using Arabic and Middle Eastern samples
against a bass
heavy reggae
, rock
, or trance
rhythm to produce deeply textured tracks that progress layer upon layer.
al career as a drummer
in a heavy metal
band.
Marks moved to Portugal
in 1986 and played Beatles
music for tourists
. He first delved into electronic music in 1989, when he bought a digital sampler. The first tune he recorded on it was called "Maxwell House."
In 1997, Banco De Gaia put together a five piece band that included Ted Duggan (drums), Ashley Hopkins (bass), Larry Whelan (wind synth, saxophone and ethnic flutes), and Gary Spacey-Foot (percussion and saxophones).
The band reduced in number to just Marks, Duggan, and Hopkins in 1999, and then just Marks and Duggan from 2000 until 2003; when Marks went back to being a solo
artist
.
On 20 September 2009, Banco De Gaia played an album launch show for his album, Memories Dreams Reflections at Dingwalls
in London
. This show was to celebrate twenty years of Banco De Gaia. Marks was joined on stage by three members from the original five piece band, Hopkins, Whelan, and Duggan and vocalist Maya Preece, who sang on the latest album.
These first three albums existed only on tape and are no longer being sold due to copyright
issues with several of the samples
used on them.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, formed in 1989 by Toby Marks (born 1964, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
).
The music of Banco de Gaia is best categorized as ambient dub, but Marks works to cross genres, often using Arabic and Middle Eastern samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
against a bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
heavy reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, or trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
rhythm to produce deeply textured tracks that progress layer upon layer.
History
In 1978, Marks began his musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al career as a drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
in a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band.
Marks moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1986 and played Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
music for tourists
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. He first delved into electronic music in 1989, when he bought a digital sampler. The first tune he recorded on it was called "Maxwell House."
In 1997, Banco De Gaia put together a five piece band that included Ted Duggan (drums), Ashley Hopkins (bass), Larry Whelan (wind synth, saxophone and ethnic flutes), and Gary Spacey-Foot (percussion and saxophones).
The band reduced in number to just Marks, Duggan, and Hopkins in 1999, and then just Marks and Duggan from 2000 until 2003; when Marks went back to being a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
On 20 September 2009, Banco De Gaia played an album launch show for his album, Memories Dreams Reflections at Dingwalls
Dingwalls
Dingwalls is a venue adjacent to Camden Lock in London, England. It houses bars, cafes, clubs . The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, T.E...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This show was to celebrate twenty years of Banco De Gaia. Marks was joined on stage by three members from the original five piece band, Hopkins, Whelan, and Duggan and vocalist Maya Preece, who sang on the latest album.
Early cassettes
- Medium (World Bank, 1991)
- Freeform Flutes and Fading Tibetans (World Bank, 1992)
- Deep Live (World Bank, 1992)
These first three albums existed only on tape and are no longer being sold due to copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
issues with several of the samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
used on them.
Albums
- Maya (Planet DogPlanet DogPlanet Dog is a small ambient/techno/breakbeat/psychedelic trance record label based in London, UK. It is part of the same organisation that ran Club Dog in London and the touring Megadog parties....
, 1994) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#34 - Last Train to LhasaLast Train to LhasaLast Train to Lhasa is an album by Banco de Gaia which was released in 1995. It was released as double CD or triple LP. A "Special Limited" 3 CD/4 LP edition contained three additional remixes....
(Planet Dog, 1995) - UK #31 - Big Men CryBig Men CryBig Men Cry is a music album by artist Banco de Gaia, released in 1997.-Track listing:# "Drippy" – 8:56# "Celestine" – 12:37# "Drunk as a Monk" – 9:26# "Big Men Cry" – 6:09# "Gates Does Windows" – 0:36# "One Billion Miles Out" – 10:36...
(Planet Dog, 1997) - The Magical Sounds of Banco de GaiaThe Magical Sounds of Banco de GaiaThe Magical Sounds of Banco de Gaia is an album by Banco de Gaia. It was released in 1999 on Six Degrees Records as part of their Travel Series.-Track listing:# "I Love Baby Cheesy" – 06:34# "Harvey and the Old Ones" – 08:25# "Sinhala" – 09:17...
(1999) - IgizehIgizehIgizeh is an album by Banco de Gaia. It was released on September 29, 2000 on Six Degrees Records.-Track listing:# "Seti I" – 08:44# "Obsidian" – 07:07# "Creme Egg" – 05:50# "Glove Puppet " – 04:14# "Gizeh" – 09:23...
(2000) - You Are Here (2004)
- Farewell Ferengistan (2006)
- Memories Dreams Reflections (2009)
Compilation albums
- 10 Years (2002)
- 10 Years Remixed (2003)
- Songs From The Silk Road (2011)
EPs
- Desert Wind (1993)
- Heliopolis (1994)
- Last Train to LhasaLast Train to LhasaLast Train to Lhasa is an album by Banco de Gaia which was released in 1995. It was released as double CD or triple LP. A "Special Limited" 3 CD/4 LP edition contained three additional remixes....
(1995) - Drunk As a Monk Mixes
- I Love Baby Cheesy (1999)
- Obsidian (2000)
- Zeus No Like Techno / Gray Over Gray (2004)
- Kara Kum Remixes (2006)
- Echoes (22-minute version of the Pink Floyd songEchoes (Pink Floyd song)"Echoes" is a song by Pink Floyd including lengthy instrumental passages, sound effects, and musical improvisation. Written in 1970 by all four members of the group , "Echoes" provides the extended finale to Pink Floyd's album Meddle...
)
External links
- Banco de Gaia Official Page
- Interview with Toby Marks
- [ Banco de Gaia at Allmusic]
- Planet Dog Records website