Banco de Gaia

Banco de Gaia is a British electronic project that started in the late 1980s, originally formed by Toby Marks and Richard Follin in Bristol. Marks had classical piano training, which sometimes shows up in the arrangements, while Follin brought more of the electronic textures. They put out their first album, 'Sana Terra,' in 1991.

Their music tends to blend ambient, world, and dance elements without sticking to one style. A track like 'Obsidian' from their catalog gives a sense of that approach, layered, atmospheric, and rhythm-driven. They followed with albums such as 'Last Train to Lhasa' in 1993 and 'Maya' in 1995, building a discography that avoided easy categorization.

By the early 2000s, they had released 'Dark Matter' and 'Igize,' and later put out 'Odin' in 2007. The project has kept going, though details about recent activity aren't covered here. Their work has found listeners who appreciate that mix of electronic sound with broader musical touches.