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Banco de Gaia

» Maya : 20th Anniversary Edition

Reviewed by Pete M / Submitted 18-07-17 14:37

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings
Format: CD
Genre: Ambient / Trance


And now the third Banco de Gaia album to receive the 20th anniversary edition is Maya. Actually, this was the first album of Banco's to receive the deluxe edition treatment. In 2011, the album was dusted off and given a sparkle and a clean-up but in 2014, 20 years since its birth, Maya has received the ultimate accolade.

It seems we're going back in time with these editions and, in many respects, we are. As with the previous two editions, this is a limited edition release with no downloads or streams available and only 1500 were available. Thankfully, I was able to secure a copy and I'd like to thank Black Spring PR for their assistance. Also, kudos to them for getting me Big Men Cry and Last Train To Lhasa, both anniversary editions. Smile Anyway, on to the record!

CD1 is, of course, the original album in re-mastered form. The sound quality has been spruced up from its 1994 master and includes all eight tracks in segued form so there is no break between tracks. So you get the sense of a journey. This album was when the first real trance tracks, with nature sounds, were coming into focus and this was before the likes of BT entered the fray. Favourites for me? "Heliopolis" is a banger for me as the wonderfully exotic "Shanti". Lai Lah is included in its V1.infinite form and the title track which, bizarrely, wasn't going to be included. Its original track was "Soufie" but that was dropped and replaced with Maya. Soufie does appear though.

CD2 is a bonus disc full of mixes and live tracks, the highlight being the mammoth 22-minute master of Shanti, which was included in an edit on CD1. Other highlights include the Marine mix of Lai Lah and a live version of Gamelah. With CD3. this is where it gets interesting. Eat Static takes on Lai Lah and throws everything, including the kitchen sink, at it. The result is a psy-infused banger. Haj Ali's Birthday mix of Qurna is also on here as in the Blue Mix of Soufie, which was supposed to be the final track on the first disc.

Unlike the first disc, CDs 2 and 3 are unmixed so you're getting lots of tasty morsels and delectable treats for your listening pleasure. The live version of Shanti is a particular highlight, as is the Eat Static remix of Lai Lah. If you didn't get the original album, seek this one out. You won't be disappointed.


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