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Banco de Gaia — Last Train to Lhasa
Album: Last Train to Lhasa
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 670









Released: 2002
Length: 11:33
Plays (last 30 days): 0
(Instrumental)
Comments (70)add comment
... segues into the Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville"?
Is it ever going to end? I kind of like it but can see that I may get sick of it if heard more than a few times.
I bought this album, and in the booklet ( I'm not used to write in english, I live in the province of Québec), they say that this album was released to help people from Tibet, invaded by the Chinese, 1.2 million dead. The chinese were also at the time ( 1995) planning to build a train to Tibet to allow Chinese to immigrate there. There was also named '' the tibet.org to fund help for people over there. Great music and at the same time it reminds me of how the sound of the train was used in the making of music from the south of the USA
Sounds like Donkey Kong yelling in a few parts.
Toby Marks continues to be one of my favourite composers of electronica. His blends of textures and tones, beats and aural sculptures fascinate and delight me. Wonderful to trip out to, whether at my studio bench or on a dance floor. 
Those that somehow can't get beyond their pitiful and bland monovision of politics and spirituality to listen to the MUSIC  should go play in another sandbox.
Would wager that pretty much 98.4% of the commenteers here have never taken the last (or the earlier one) train to Llasa.  

Banco de Gaia / Toby Marks ... very, very under-appreciated body of work.

‪I Love Baby Cheesy !!!‬



Forgive me, wossName,  if I missed something, but I didnt see anywhere where lwilkinson wrote the words you attributed to him/her. I find putting words like that in someone else's mouth very dissappointing.  Much prefer the approach of Gajdzin who dealt with what lwilkinson actually wrote and provided an interesting response.  


lwilkinson wrote:
I hate muslims.
 
There, no need to waste as much space as you do.



This song is as much noise pollution as is the coal burning on this train pollutes the air..... please make it stop!!!!! 
*removes earbuds - waits for RP to stop the torture*  {#Evil}

P.S. Why is there a debate on here about Muslim creativity vs Jewish creativity, cullminating in a comment about hating one of those ethnic groups? Really disappointed those posts were allowed to stay up. {#Naughty}
 polkadude wrote:
OMG, sounds like Yoko Ono in a crowded Baghdad disco bar...

 

Hmmm, that sounds right up my alley, will have to give this song a listen to be sure.
 lwilkinson wrote:
I hate muslims.
 
There, no need to waste as much space as you do.
Never heard this before... pretty chilled. Busy reading Paul Theroux's Great Railway Bazaar, so it's kinda appropriate for me right now. Just love the diversity of this awesome radio station.
While we're *steaming* through songs with a train theme, any bets on what track might be next? Trains by Porcupine Tree? Train in Vain from the Clash? What's Bill's fave train song?
I am REALLY disappointed in the low rating on this tune.
Please make this song stop - it is way way too long.  Maybe that's why it's the last train.
What the hell?
 lwilkinson wrote:
The Arabs/Muslims/Islamics stole much of the knowledge attributed to them by invading and conquering and then controlling the scientists and philosophers under jizya tribute and then laying claim to existing materials.

Islamic culture is non-creative.  There have been hundreds of nobel prizes and patents to Jewish people and only a mere handful to Muslims.
 
Really? Were Greek and Roman cultures non-creative? Can't recall many Nobel Prizes and patents issued to ancient Greeks and Romans... Hmmm... Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Archimedes, Homer, Herodotus - what a highly non-creative bunch!

Fascinating concept of the Muslims stealing the knowledge, too. Exactly whom did they invade and stole all the knowledge that modern astronomy is based on (most stars have Arabic names, as you probably know)? I would love to know the year, the name of the invading Muslim general, etc. - I will then go and update Wikipedia, 'cause clearly it has all that ancient history all wrong!

Specifically, it would be interesting to know, whom did Ibn al-Haitham steal the idea for camera obscura (camera - from an arabic word "quamara"!) on which all modern cameras are based (even digital ones) and from whom did al-Jazari steal the crank-shaft that makes your car move, just to name a few Arabic inventions. Oh, but wait, they don't count, 'cause they didn't get any patents or Nobel Prizes for them, I forgot.

And don't even get me started on Persians, whom we owe so many things from the modern brick through wine to the windmill... Ah, yes, no patents again...


im all over the place with this song, reminiscent of the song itself.
not exactly sure what to make of it, I may just be too hard to please, but I feel there is something missing big time!
Really a quite creative and innovative tune, just a tad too long, though.
Why the low rating on this song? It's quite good. Perhaps it's not a good fit for the RP format, but if you can like Shine On You Crazy Diamond, then you can like this descendant.
Strangely satisfying...
 lwilkinson wrote:

Cut from Wiki ..............

"The concept of zero as a number and not merely a symbol for separation is attributed to India where by the 9th century CE practical calculations were carried out using zero, which was treated like any other number, even in case of division.<9><10> The Indian scholar Pingala (circa 5th-2nd century BCE) used binary numbers in the form of short and long syllables (the latter equal in length to two short syllables), making it similar to Morse code.<11><12> He and his contemporary Indian scholars used the Sanskrit word śūnya to refer to zero or void."

The concept itself is Babylonian from about 2,000 BC where they used slash marks as a placeholder.

Please notice that all these dates precede the founding of Islam in 622 AD.

The Arabs/Muslims/Islamics stole much of the knowledge attributed to them by invading and conquering and then controlling the scientists and philosophers under jizya tribute and then laying claim to existing materials.

Islamic culture is non-creative.  There have been hundreds of nobel prizes and patents to Jewish people and only a mere handful to Muslims.

This disparity between the accomplishments of ancient Greek, Hindu, roman, Abyssinian, Babylonian cultures and modern western culture and the stagnant Arab culture(s)  is likely a major source of the conflict between east and west.
  Oh lordy, here we go with recycled tripe. Your arguments concerning the alleged inferiority of a particular culture (as noted in another comment, Islamics (sic) are not the same everywhere and include Persians among others) remind me of the esteemed philosopher Lyndon Larouche, who wrote that Jews have no true culture of their own, but stole it from others. You are in really heady company there. Enjoy the breeze at that altitude.


Muh-yoot.  Jeez, that's awful.
 lwilkinson wrote:
The Arabs/Muslims/Islamics stole much of the knowledge attributed to them by invading and conquering and then controlling the scientists and philosophers under jizya tribute and then laying claim to existing materials.

Islamic culture is non-creative.  There have been hundreds of nobel prizes and patents to Jewish people and only a mere handful to Muslims.

This disparity between the accomplishments of ancient Greek, Hindu, roman, Abyssinian, Babylonian cultures and modern western culture and the stagnant Arab culture(s)  is likely a major source of the conflict between east and west.
 

That is a very rude statement and doesn't represent history. Not to mention the usual confusion between Arabs, Muslims and Islamics. Surely you must have good reasons to have this hate toward Arabs. Which I guess are all related to terrorism. Unfortunately you probably are right as hate toward western countries has created the ideal conditions to the developement of fundamentalism in most countries of the Middle-East, in Africa, India, Central and South Asia  (not only Arabic), and I cannot but feel deeply sad and desperate about it. Because indeed Islamism tend to repress creation. As all fundamentalisms do.
But I read Berber, Persian, Arab poetry, and I know humans, are, everywhere the same: they have hope, imagination and desire and a crave for creation.
Amongst the reasons which led the crusades, looting was in good place. Not only looting of gold, goods or merchandises, but knowledge, more specifically chemistry.
Ironically Cathedrals wouldn't have their magnificent stained glass without the Arabs and their knowledge in chemistry, may be inherited from Babylonians and Egyptians, and probably Persians and Chinese. It doesn't take away an inch off the fabulous power of creation of the master glassmakers both Arabs and European, whether Muslims or Christians or Seculars.
"Nothing new under the sun" 
If you care to have a look, here is an interesting link in wikipedia too https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy_and_chemistry_in_medieval_Islam


 Bruce_AK wrote:
What can I say? I am odd. I like the repetitive nature of this very danceable tune. I enjoy the Arabic feel of the melody which I especially relish in these days where all things Arabic seem to be diminished as coming from an inferior culture. Let us not forget all the great things Islamic culture has given us, such mundane things as the concept of the number "zero," and the scholarly tradition that made the European "Renaissance" possible. A good "World Beat" tune. PLEASE keep this and more like it coming.

 
Cut from Wiki ..............

"The concept of zero as a number and not merely a symbol for separation is attributed to India where by the 9th century CE practical calculations were carried out using zero, which was treated like any other number, even in case of division.<9><10> The Indian scholar Pingala (circa 5th-2nd century BCE) used binary numbers in the form of short and long syllables (the latter equal in length to two short syllables), making it similar to Morse code.<11><12> He and his contemporary Indian scholars used the Sanskrit word śūnya to refer to zero or void."

The concept itself is Babylonian from about 2,000 BC where they used slash marks as a placeholder.

Please notice that all these dates precede the founding of Islam in 622 AD.

The Arabs/Muslims/Islamics stole much of the knowledge attributed to them by invading and conquering and then controlling the scientists and philosophers under jizya tribute and then laying claim to existing materials.

Islamic culture is non-creative.  There have been hundreds of nobel prizes and patents to Jewish people and only a mere handful to Muslims.

This disparity between the accomplishments of ancient Greek, Hindu, roman, Abyssinian, Babylonian cultures and modern western culture and the stagnant Arab culture(s)  is likely a major source of the conflict between east and west.


The songs they use are Indian, not Arabic, nor Tibetan. Bits of conversation might be in Nepalese, but I am not very sure as they are quite short.
And here is a review https://www.westnet.com/consumable/1995/09.05/revlastt.html
I love Banco de Gaia - Nice to hear them on RP

Arabic is not compulsory Muslim, nor Islamic.


I'm diggin' it.  It smacks of Reggae, Hypno, House.  Good music to drive by.

Reptition, sure, but that's the point.
Anybody else reaching for the Excedrin? 
PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!
o.k. I DID like it, but it is still going on, so therefore, I change my position and do NOT like it.
I think this is great - so there you Nay-Sayers
One of my favorites. Takes a little patience to get into it but it is worth it.
Thanks Bill!
 Bruce_AK wrote:
What can I say? I am odd. I like the repetitive nature of this very danceable tune. I enjoy the Arabic feel of the melody which I especially relish in these days where all things Arabic seem to be diminished as coming from an inferior culture. Let us not forget all the great things Islamic culture has given us, such mundane things as the concept of the number "zero," and the scholarly tradition that made the European "Renaissance" possible. A good "World Beat" tune. PLEASE keep this and more like it coming.

 
Well said Bruce, KEEP IT COMING.

I like it!
Is this Banco's take on Last train to Trancentral? It sounds a bit like the version on Chill Out. Cool.{#Smile}
Monotonous, marginally musical accompaniment to the strangling of multiple cats.  Sweet baby Jesus make it stop.
OMG, sounds like Yoko Ono in a crowded Baghdad disco bar...
 Hannio wrote:


Yeah, my mother in law from Nurnberg always says the Arabs don't mean any harm to anybody.  She said that about Hitler, too.

 
It was my understanding that Austin was where the smart Texans lived.
The song still bites.

...wow, zero to godwin in ten posts...
it's just a bunch of noise!
Derail that sumbitch - NOW!!!
This makes me grind my teeth. Hate. It.
 Bruce_AK wrote:
What can I say? I am odd. I like the repetitive nature of this very danceable tune. I enjoy the Arabic feel of the melody which I especially relish in these days where all things Arabic seem to be diminished as coming from an inferior culture. Let us not forget all the great things Islamic culture has given us, such mundane things as the concept of the number "zero," and the scholarly tradition that made the European "Renaissance" possible. A good "World Beat" tune. PLEASE keep this and more like it coming.

 

Yeah, my mother in law from Nurnberg always says the Arabs don't mean any harm to anybody.  She said that about Hitler, too.

 gypsy222 wrote:

I agree. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.
 
+1

Hmm... Surprised to see Banco De Gaia here. Not crazy about this one though. :)

{#Motor} This is RP core music! Where's it been hiding?{#Motor}
 mandolin wrote:
...i really like this...
 
Since you're drifting... the "music" you like, must be getting dimmer in volume as you drift off, otherwise you couldn't possibly really like this, right?
Oh Jeez...I made myself breakfast 20 minutes ago...this is STILL ON??


Are we there yet?

nice to hear this on RP. this is IMO the best progressive house album of all time.
Wooah - blast from the past. You have to rummage a bit to find the good stuff of his, but there are some crackers there amongst some rather average stuff. Couple of great mixes on an album I bought on impulse in the early 90s called 'Earthjuice - the best of ambient Dub Vol 2' or something like that...

...i really like this...
What can I say? I am odd. I like the repetitive nature of this very danceable tune. I enjoy the Arabic feel of the melody which I especially relish in these days where all things Arabic seem to be diminished as coming from an inferior culture. Let us not forget all the great things Islamic culture has given us, such mundane things as the concept of the number "zero," and the scholarly tradition that made the European "Renaissance" possible. A good "World Beat" tune. PLEASE keep this and more like it coming.
Yeah, okay, it sounds like a train, and there's some I-think-they're-singing-through-distant-megaphones effects... cool, for a minute or so... I might be getting off before we get to Lhasa, if I don't fall asleep first.
Freebish wrote:
That was enough 4 minutes ago, please.
I agree. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.
That was enough 4 minutes ago, please.
I could listen to this all day, just curl up on the couch and think...
seriously, i can only picture adriana lima in a thong right now beelzebubba wrote:
uuuhhh... is this like the soundtrack for the Victorias Secret Fashion Runway Model Show or something??
I liked the beginning since I was thinking it would become different later. In fact it changes, but for a poor boom-boom beat. Not for me. :headshake:
Sounds like the canned syncopation on an electronic keyboard. The least the artist could have done would have been to press another key. Maybe (just maybe) fine if on the dance floor, but for listening passively to this is just boring.
AAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL ABOARD!! Next stop LLLHHAASSAA :
is it me or is there a LOT of Leftfield in this song.
robert smith of the cure once stated in a concert program that this was his favorite band. after seeing that, i went out and bought this album to see why; and man, was i impressed. banco de gaia, esp. this album, deserves much respect. great music to drive to!
uuuhhh... is this like the soundtrack for the Victorias Secret Fashion Runway Model Show or something??
I like this a lot- in fact just bought it. Very interesting sound. And its only one person?
Noise with a beat.
Repetitive yes, but there is something about this that's very appealing. I gave it a high rating and will probably lower it after time but right now it's a lovely number.
Yay!!! Classic Banco... So glad to finally hear this on RP!