Attempting to recreate the golden yesterdays of Jose Padilla`s White Isle sunsets with the tunes of today.

Over the last 12 months, I’ve only written 4 Chocolate Milk & Brandy round ups. That doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a lot sunset suitable music released. In fact, it’s probably been the opposite. When compiling this list, I earmarked over 30 albums, most of which I’ve previously waffled on about at length. Therein lies the rub. On Ban Ban Ton Ton I’ve set a cut-off. If a piece of writing on an individual musical offering exceeds 200 words, then it goes online as a separate post. It seemed, that when it came to the mellower stuff, I couldn’t control the urge to describe the lapping percussive tides, or the spiralling new age-nuanced synths, so, the bulk of these received their own spotlight, rather than being bundled together in a monthly cocktail recipe.* There were a scattering of standout, more serene, singles, but since these were spread out, sporadic, I instead included them with the dance-y gear, under the banner Looking For The Balearic Beat. I’m gonna break down what I’ve got into the old, reissued / remixed, and the new. Today I’ll tackle the fresh 45s and LPs. 

ALBUMS

Music For Dream’s Kenneth Bager teamed up with Islandman’s Tolga Boyuk, as East Of North, for the Tangerine Dream-inspired Music From A Non Existing Movie, and the Copenhagen-based imprint also released the latest instalment in Prins Emanuel’s Diagonal Musik. 

Venetian ambient veteran / genius Gigi Masin collaborated with the great Greg Foat, on Dolphin, an album of essentially jazz, and then Echochord’s Rod Modell for Red Hair Girl At The Lighthouse Beach, which was a muted, minimal masterpiece. Gigi also found time to turn in a stunning remix of Eddie Chacon’s Sundown, which to be honest, was already pretty stunning to start with. Freeez’s John Rocca and Music Conception’s Calm also returned with lush, laidback, jazzy long-players, featuring very cool keys and sweet saxophone solos. 

Another frequent collaborator of Gigi Masin’s, perhaps even a protege, Jonny Nash, quietly sneaked out his own Point Of Entry. I bought this album on sight, since Jonny’s a mate, and there are certain folks that I always try to support. I listened, typed a review, put the record away, and thought no more of it. However, when I came to compile the mix that accompanies this round-up, tracks from Jonny’s LP kept leaping out. It contains so many subtly constructed classics. Almost exactly the same is true of Lexx’s latest missive, Home Away From Home. Steve Cobby was another friend who continued to both carve out an individual, characteristic, groove, and grow as an artist. 

The Grid’s Richard Norris was extremely busy, not least writing his memoir, Strange Things Are Happening, but he still managed to maintain his essential, monthly Music For Healing series, and press a collection of his “deep-listening” works to vinyl. The Orb released Prism, which was a completely mixed bag, of reggae, house, and ambient. The title track being a very fine example of the latter. Another big “IDM” name. Mike Paradinas, returned to the fray with the brilliant 1977. Of the lesser known electronic artists the incredibly gifted IKSRE, together with Marine Eyes shaped the sublime Nurture, while Adam Higton’s Cosmic Neighbourhood wilfully wove its own eccentric sound world – part Basil Kirchin, part BBC Radiophonic Workshop cues from a cult 70s kids TV show. Something perhaps designed to be listened to on its own, but the more open-minded, I reckon, could handle tunes like Flutterby at sunset. 

Arthur Jeffes’ Penguin Cafe never disappoint, and this year’s Rain Before Seven didn’t have anything like duff tune on it. Cut from similar chamber music cloth to Penguin Cafe, was Javier Jimenez Rolo’s Saint Malo.

SINGLES & E.P.s

Phil Mison was busy working on a new Cantoma album, which he teased with the track, Way To The Sun. This came with a cracking Calm remix, who during 2023 developed his “mellow acid” sound. Something he also subjected Sergio Messina and Seahawks to. Phil then promo’d his Ambala project with the beautiful Quiet Yellow Purple, which is one of those tunes whose quality instantly stands out. 

The mysterious Hawaiian musician, Golden Retriever, returned to Omena, after a seven year hiatus, with an E.P. of gentle treated guitar-based gear, which got better and better with each listen. Illustrious, celebrated wildlife illustrator, Matt Sewell, proved that he’s a dab hand with more than a brush and a pen, and in the process stunned with his debut recordings – an acoustic kosmische collaboration with The Gong. 

Loftsoul surprised me with a sultry tropical white label 7, not least because they turned out to be a local, Ueda-based crew. Multi Culti co-founder Angus Gruzman, aka Dreems, donned the alias Angelo Cruzman for a cute 45 called In Your Mind. Sun Sone shone on Sprechen. 

Pioneering plugged-in UK artist, Martyn Ware (Human League, Heaven 17, B.E.F.) released an amazing single via Electronic Sound magazine. Jimmy Cauty joined forces with Pogues co-founder, Jem Finer, as Local Psycho, and the Stone Club mix of their Hurdy Gurdy Song was like The KLF reborn anew. 

*When I started Ban Ban Ton Ton, in 2018, sticking rigidly to longer posts was an experiment. A sinking with the ship, as the online landscape changed at a clip. I can tell you now, with good humour, that it failed. If you want a site with plenty of hits, and return visitors, then you want short punchy content. You don’t need tons of it, but you need it to be interesting. With an angle / insight that sets you apart. You then need someone with the time, wit, and enthusiasm, to craft sharp social media posts (for me, this creates a confused loop of what’s more important? Are you writing the piece for the piece’s sake, or are you writing the piece for the likes?). As I watched, in our backend, numbers peak during the pandemic, when folks were locked down, in need of distractions, and then over the last 12 months tail off, and Instagram tank, I asked, reminded myself, did I set out to build a “cool” popular “platform”, or did I simply enjoy getting lost in, writing about music? 

Chilled reissues to follow…

TRACK-LIST

Part One
East Of North – The End
Calm – Moonage Daydream
Jonny Nash – Ditto
Golden Retriever – Part Lake
Sewell & The Gong – Tonight We Fly
Penguin Cafe – Temporary Shelter From The Storm
Richard Norris – June
Thomas Almqvist – Kampsang
Gigi Masin & Rod Modell – Summer Morning At The Lighthouse Beach
Lexx – Here And Now
Group of Gods – Space Cowboy
Ambala – Quiet Yellow Purple
The Orb – Prism
Saint Malo – Le Pont Roulant
Martyn Ware – Unknowable
Mark Barrott – Icarus

Part Two
Irresistible Force – Lotus Position
Prins Emanuel – Ruach
Finis Africae – El Pulso de la Madera
Stryke – Introspection
Mike Paradinas – Burnt Orange
Dream Dolphin – Island Humming
Greg Foat & Gigi Masin – Lee
Fila Brazillia – Tone Poem
Wally Badarou – Amber Whispers
Hole In One – Ideas For Virtual Reality
IKSRE & Marine Eyes – Rainforest Dawn
Aria Rostami – Golden Hour
Seahawks – Space Oracle (aus Remix)