BANCO DE GAIA RELEASES MAYA & LAST TRAIN TO LHASA

REL DATE: 27/05/02 LABEL: DISCO GECKO DIST: PINNACLE CAT No#: MAYA/LAST TRAIN TO LHASA GKOCD002/3

“THE SUPREMELY CRAFTED WORK OF TOBY MARKS, BDG HAVE A POWER &
MAJESTY THAT IS OFTEN LACKING IN SO MUCH OF TODAY’S POST CLUB MUZAK”
METRO

“ONE OF DANCE’S DEEPEST THINKERS HAS ONCE AGAIN
 COME UP WITH THE GOODS”
WAX

“CONSISTENTLY RELEASING ALBUMS OF WONDROUS BEAUTY
AND ALMOST MIND BOGGLING CREATIVITY”
MAKING MUSIC

May 2002 see the long awaited re-release of the classic Banco De Gaia albums Maya and Last Train To Lhasa. Both albums have been held in a legal limbo for the last three years following the messy disintegration of the Planet Dog, Ultimate and Mammoth record deals. Banco De Gaia has followed the rights to these albums around the globe. In that time they have fallen into the hands of the Disney Corporation in the US and eventually, in the spring of 2001 they returned to Michael Dog who signed Banco to Planet Dog in 1992. In October 2001 Toby Marks who is the architect and creator of Banco De Gaia bought back the rights to his own back catalogue from Michael Dog.

Few artists survive and thrive around the crazy making machinations of the music industry. Few artists, even with major label support have viable careers beyond that ‘difficult second album’. Banco De Gaia however has released five studio albums and one live album over the last decade. His work has been included on numerous compilations, film soundtracks (Pi being an obvious highlight) and advertising campaigns including Miller Lite and Ford in the US. He has been remixed by the great and the good, Jack Dangers, Fluke, The Dub Pistols to name just a few, have all twiddled their knobs for Banco. He cut his teeth on the early 90s Ambient Dub compilations. Ambient music was the precursor of the current “chill out” marketing phenomena. In 1994 he released his first studio album Maya on Planet Dog records. Maya was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize on its release, followed in 1995 by the critically acclaimed Last Train To Lhasa. Both albums reached No1# in the independent charts and are widely acknowledged as brilliant and pioneering albums.

Toby Marks is in the mood to celebrate, finally he has control of his own recordings. Maya and Last Train To Lhasa will be released on Disco Gecko Recordings, which he started in 1999 for the The Magical Sounds of Banco De Gaia. He took a year out from the label in 2000, when he licensed Igizeh, to San Francisco’s Six Degrees Records for the world. Igizeh spawned the barnstorming single Obsidian, which was a “radio hit” on both sides of the Atlantic. Pete Tong described the single as “orgasmic”.

At the risk of quoting both Gloria Gaynor and Destiny’s Child, Banco De Gaia ‘will survive’ and is a ‘survivor’. Most artists would have quit when things got complicated. Banco De Gaia has been saved by his love of performing live (a rare thing in the ‘electronic’ arena), a self-depreciating sense of humour (check the Obsidian video) and a consistent sales record. It has never been hard for Banco De Gaia to get distribution or a viable International licensee. However fashionable or unfashionable Banco De Gaia may be perceived to be (which way is the wind blowing this week) his records continue to sell. The listening public and critic’s alike love what he does and their support gives his career real power. Maya and Last Train To Lhasa will be followed in the autumn by the first ever Banco De Gaia compilation taking in tens years of releases and all the rare mixes in between. Viva the artist led and artist empowered revolution.

Interview requests contact: Eugenie @ Disco Gecko on 01903 502644

PR Office • 57 Melville Way • Goring By Sea • Worthing • West Sussex • BN12 6HT.UK

tel: +44 1903 502644 mobile: 07967 102259

email: eugenie.arrowsmith@btopenworld.com