Banco De Gaia Farewell Ferengistan

• Words: Stacy Meyn
• Label: Six Degrees
• XLR8R Rating: /10

On Farewell Ferengistan, Banco de Gaia's Toby Marks attacks materialism's home with more than just Deep Space 9 references. (It's said that Ferengistan is Central Asia's-and Star Trek's-name for the greedy Western world.) Marks works his characteristically subtle sonics with socio-political concerns guiding him. The title track rolls out mellow East Indian vox and spooky piano tinklings while BdG actually rocks out on "Ynys Elen" before dabbling in ska ("Chingiz") and bhangra ("Kara Kum"). "Saturn Return" channels Riley and Reich, and Marks squeezes in references to Philip K. Dick‘s fave tune and Rudyard Kipling's "White Man‘s Burden" before hurling zings at Blair and Bush.