Inspired by the burgeoning Acid House scene in the late 1980's Banco de Gaia-aka Toby Marks, made a breakthrough as an ambient dub pioneer in the early 90's.
As part of the Planet Dog label, Marks was categorised with a host of alt dance groups including label mates Eat Static, as well as Transglobal Underground, System 7 and Future Loop Foundation.
His penchant for mixing electronica with world percussive elements made a suitable impression on indie/alt/dance types with a bent for eastern mysticism. Essentially techno-hippies with particularly ethical foreign policies, with Marks foremost, promoting the freedom of Tibet from Chinese occupation.
As these groups dropped from mainstream consciousness, Marks continued unperturbed by the ever changing trends of the music industry. Thus six years since the release of first album, 'Maya', we find Marks in similar mood on his new album 'Igizeh'.
As tonight's crowd proves, his small following have remained faithful, many of them the wrong side of thirty. They know what they want from Banco and despite some severe technical difficulties, Marks just about manages to deliver.
Opener 'Seti 1' sets the tone for the first half of the set, whirling synth FX and choral chanting underpinned by (over) amplified live drums. Indeed far from ambience, Banco ploughs a rock/dance course reminiscent of Death in Vegas and on 'Drunk as a Monk' a raw synthesised guitar sound that can only be described as the stripped down sister of Orbital's 'Satan'.
Whilst this direction sounds promising, the end result comes across as a rather contrived gluing together of sounds, without the diversity or experimentalism required to pull it off.
In fact the crowd remain subdued until the popular dance strains of 'Obsidian' let their feet do the talking. Dispensing with the live drums, Marks finally brings his collective to the frenzied hysteria they had anticipated.
It is doubtful that Banco de Gaia will ever reach beyond his select following. For them he is a man beautifully immersed in his music. For the rest of us, well, we might just check him out if we've got an afternoon spare at Glastonbury.
