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Maya, being his first proper cd release, is fairly unrefined, yet pretty groovy and beat-driven.. overall, an interesting cd....
Last Train to Lhasa seemed to be when he became more comfortable with the whole idea, so he let his ideas roam a little more freely. Of the four cds available in America, I'd have to say this is the most emotional. Highlights (in my mind) Include the title track, China, 887, and White Paint..
Live at Glastonbury is just that, Live. Being live, it is obviously rather unrefined.. A very interesting cd, because, due to the minimum of post-production processing, you can really feel the energy and emotion of the live performance. Much more beat-driven than a lot of Banco's work. (Particularly 887, which was turned from a traditinally ambient, wandering soundscape into an almost hard-trance anthem...) Highlights include Last Train to Lhasa, 887, White Paint, Data Inadequate and Kincajou...
Big Men Cry is Toby's first studio release since Lhasa.. It is much more refined than any of the previous cds...Other than the 20 minute long Starstation Earth, the cd lacks the major emotional epics that have been a trademark of Banco.. However, it is still a great cd, as he seems to have found his groove, so to speak, combining his eastern sounds, his trademark funky beats, and the ever present subtle yet unrelenting energy.. I'd have to say the highlights are Starstation Earth, Drippy, Drunk as a Monk, and Big Men Cry.. (although Celestine, which you'd swear is a Pink Floyd tune, is good too...)