The 9th of Nine Hearts

A 11 track ambient album (58m 34s) — released September 4th 2020 on Disco Gecko Recordings

An enchanting journey through nine responses to love, Banco de Gaia's ninth studio album arrives at a time when the world needs it more than many of us may realise. Featuring special guest artists, from Pink Floyd's Dick Parry, Zero 7's Sophie Barker, The The's James Eller and No-Man's Tim Bowness, The 9th of Nine Hearts is a celebration of the spark in all of us: the concept of love itself. Fusing ambient, psychedelia, art rock and acid house, each track evolves naturally into the next, with love the starting point to them all.

The introspective Nine Hearts opens the album: a synth-fused jewel, with hints of Floyd-ian psychedelia, it features dreamy vocals from art rock vocalist Tim Bowness (No-Man). Inspired by the love in friendship, it merges into second track, Burn the Witch, whose edgy, prog rock beats clash with bold drum rolls and wild, orchestral ambience.

Other highlights include the first single Le Foucauld, an electronic jamboree of joyous Middle Eastern samples and the lingering, melancholic beauty of ambient track And So We Dream of Futures Lost. The Princess and The Sky Goat, the ninth track on the album, opens with samples of coastal birds reworked into glittering, eerie textures. Dick Parry's saxophone drifts across a mythical soundscape of oceanic calm, the backdrop to an opiate-chilled blend of bruised basslines and rugged riffs.

Old time Banco de Gaia fans and contemporary dance-lovers alike will adore 91 – a dark, old school techno anthem, featuring samples lifted from an early Banco cassette-release. A thundering, bittersweet dancefloor filler, 91 is a throwback to the acid house movement and the idealism of the 60's, and speaks to anyone dreaming of how to mend a fragmented world. Sophie Barker, who also wrote the lyrics, shines: her haunting voice, full of longing, calls to us all to keep love alive – not just on the dance floor, but throughout our lives. Poignant parting tracks, soundscape My Midnight Sun and vignette This Heart inspire hope and possibility.

This is more than just an album: it's a piercing lament, a call to arms, a musical pilgrimage, a celebration of love itself. It leaves you with a sense of renewal and a glowing reminder of how music, the universal language, is keeping our dreams alive. The 9th of Nine Hearts is a timeless homage to love, from a legendary artist and something we will all keep returning to. It's definitely Banco de Gaia at his best.

In the best traditions, an epic from Banco de Gaia, gorgeous - Nemone BBC6 Music

Mesmerising, deep chill that doesn’t sound like anything OR anyone else - Claire Anderson The Late Lounge Podcast

This is inspired - lots of fresh and panoramic sounds here. Strong writing, some rockin grooves, lush beatless glides, lovely wordless vocals and a profoundly cosmic undercurrent throughout. This is Banco's strongest album of new material in 15 years - Mike G Ambient Music Guide

(Featuring) one of the finest moments in his catalogue... as always best listened to in its entirety. Hailed by some as a return to form, it is in fact simply a continuation of the consistently high form Toby Marks has shown throughout a long and illustrious career - Andy Basire Total Music Magazine

Dubby loveliness that fuses psych, spiky rock, acid and ambient. And in 91, they play homage to the halcyon days of techno floor fillers. They’ve still got it - The Crack

  • Kudos happily ship all items worldwide.
  • Shipping costs and delivery times are available here.
  • UK items are sent tracked as standard at no extra cost.
  • We aim to dispatch orders placed before 2pm on the same day.
  • We are unable to ship orders on weekends or Bank Holidays.
  • If you purchase a pre-order item amongst an order of in-stock releases, we will typically hold your order until all items are in ready to send.
  • Although we use all reasonable means to ensure that your order is delivered within a specified time, we cannot accept any responsibility for late deliveries due to circumstances outside of our control. We will do our best to inform you of any unexpected delay.