Category: Music

Incredible review of Banco De Gaia’s album ‘Apollo’ and my vocals

FREQ

It pretty much blew my mind reading this review on FREQ by Gary Parsons and such kind words about my vocals too:

“The album opens with “Lamentations” – soaring string-sounding synths build up beneath a beautiful vocal from Zhenia Mahdi-Nau, and the sound here is very reminiscent of Dead Can Dance as it conjures up the images of the ancient pagan temples clinging close to the cliff edges on Greek islands. Whether this is a lamentation to the crumbling state of these monuments or a lament for the rituals of old matters not, it is a powerful opener and one that casts a spell over the album…..“Acquiescence” closes the album, its breathless vocal chant bringing us back to the ancient temples where the sun is now setting casting deep its darkness until the stars begin to appear in the sky above like a shining carpet. Keyboards swell underneath an impassioned voice and we are left in its mood of sombre quiet as the music drifts off into the aether.

The album seems to tell a story (although it is certainly not a concept album) and bookended by two graceful tracks give the sense of the beginning and end of a journey. Was the album worth the seven year wait? I, for one, certainly think so.”

Click here to hear Lamentations

Click here to hear Acquiescence

To read the full review click here

Banco De Gaia – Apollo

I am incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to work with Toby Marks aka Banco De Gaia on his new album released this year – “Apollo”.

The album consists of 9 tracks with my vocals on 2 of them: “Lamentations” and “Acquiescence” which start and finish the album respectively. The project was a joy to work on. Banco De Gaia’s music crosses many genres and styles. In their own words “elements of ambient, world and dance music”. “Apollo” has been 7 years in waiting and it doesn’t disappoint. This album is a beautiful musical journey.

Apollo – as described by Toby on Banco De Gaia’s website:

“I would like to think that the heart and soul of my music has remained the same: I may not go to as many all night parties as I once did, but I still like to dance and make dance music; equally, I love building downtempo grooves and making music to chill out and breathe to.”

Apollo is available to pre-order at Bandcamp as a download or to purchase on CD. The download comes with a 7 page PDF booklet plus the front and back cover…the CD however, is in a lovingly designed Digipack with a beautifully printed, 12 page booklet.

There are remixes to follow and possibly a special edition version on vinyl and gigs are sure to follow!

The album launches officially over the weekend of 12-13 April 2013.

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Banco De Gaia – Apollo – Reviews

Read some excellent reviews sourced from the www of Banco De Gaia’s long awaited album “Apollo”!

The album opens with “Lamentations” – soaring string-sounding synths build up beneath a beautiful vocal from Zhenia Mahdi-Nau, and the sound here is very reminiscent of Dead Can Dance as it conjures up the images of the ancient pagan temples clinging close to the cliff edges on Greek islands.

Read the full review by Gary Parsons at freq.org.uk


The album ends, as it began, with the engaging voice of: Zhenia Mahdi-Nau gracing ‘Acquiescence’, providing an affirming coda to the very welcome return of Banco De Gaia.

Read the full review at www.cd-services.com