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BANCO DE GAIA - LAST TRAIN TO LHASA
 BANCO DE GAIA - LAST TRAIN TO LHASA (1995) - 320 KBPS Some people label electronica and music in this genre as soulless, but this is definitely not a claim that can be given to this album. It was recorded in response to the Chinese government's decision to build a mammoth railway into the heart of Tibet's capital, Lhasa (see the CD inlay for more info. It is quietly powerful, both politically and musically, and features some haunting and beautiful eastern vocal and instrumental samples. Last Train to Lhasa lends itself equally as well to background chillout music as it does to being listened to in its own right. There are no obvious weak tracks, instead many mighty fine ones! The epic 36 minute long "Kincajou (duck! asteroid)" is perfect for contemplative chillout, "China (clouds not mountains)" is quietly funky, "White Paint" quickly builds up out of the previous track, "Kincajou", into something not far short of genius and goes on to become the brilliant "887 (structure)", which has some excellent sampled vocals and superb eastern-influenced instumentation, which all add to the political 'sub-plot' of this album. "Last Train To Lhasa" is has an immensly catchy beat and some chants which make it infectious! And the understated "Eagle (small steppa mix)" is an excellent wind-down track to the album. Whilst it is not as uptempo as say "The Magical Sounds of Banco de Gaia", nor is it as soft and brooding as "Big Men Cry", it is no worse off for this! The tracks are beautifully mixed together into a cohesive, reflective, multi-faceted album, which despite being 13 years old has not aged much at all, unlike many albums of this genre and era. CD1 1. Last Train To Lhasa 2. Kuos 3. China (Clouds Not Mountains) 4. Amber 5. Kincajou 6. White Paint 7. 887 (Structure) CD2 1. Kuos (Gnomes Mix) 2. Kincajou (Duck! Asteroid) 3. Eagle (Small Steppa Mix) Part.1 Part.2 password: MOODSWINGS |
