Banco de Gaia, “Ynys Elen”, from the Album “Farewell Ferengistan”, 2006
Banco de Gaia is an electronic music band from England, formed in 1989 by Toby Marks.. The music of Banco de Gaia is best categorized as ambient dub, but Marks works to cross genres, often using Arabic and Middle Eastern samples against a bass heavy reggae, rock, or trance rhythm to produce deeply textured tracks that progress layer upon layer.
in 1994 Toby Marks released his first studio album “Maya” on Planet Dog records, which was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize on its release. It was followed in 1995 by the critically acclaimed “Last Train to Lhasa”. Both albums reached No1 in the UK independent charts and featured in the national album chart top 40. In the following decade Banco De Gaia released “Live at Glastonbury”, “Big Men Cry”, “The Magical Sounds of Banco De Gaia”, “Igizeh” and “You Are Here”.
The Welsh name for Lundy Island, which lies off the North Devon coast in the Bristol Channel, is Ynys Elen. There is an ancient medieval Celtic chapel which was dedicated to Saint Helena situated on the ruins of Beacon Hill.