Bananagun - The True Story of Bananagun. LP [Black Wax edition]

Bananagun - The True Story of Bananagun. LP [Black Wax edition]

Hailing from Melbourne, but with a sound stretching from 60s and 70s afrobeat and exotica to Fela Kuti-esque repetition, the proto-garage rhythmic fury of The Monks and the grooves of Os Mutantes, there’s an enticing lost world exoticism to the music of Bananagun. It’s the sort of stuff that could’ve come from a dusty record crate of hidden gems; yet as the punchy, colourfully vibrant pair of singles Do Yeah and Out of Reach have proven over the past 12 months, the band are no revivalists. On debut album The True Story of Bananagun, they make a giant leap forward with their outward-looking blend of global tropicalia.

The True Story of Bananagun marks Bananagun’s first full foray into writing and recording as a complete band, having originally germinated in the bedroom ideas and demos of guitarist, vocalist and flautist Nick van Bakel. The multi-instrumentalist grew up on skate videos, absorbing the hip-hop beats that soundtracked them - taking on touchstones like Self Core label founder Mr. Dibbs and other early 90’s turntablists.

That love of the groove underpins Bananagun - even if the rhythms now traverse far beyond those fledgling influences. "We didn't want to do what everyone else was doing,” the band’s founder...  more

credits

released June 26, 2020

Nick Van Bakel - guitar, voice, flute, trumpet, harpsichord, percussion

Jack Crook - guitar, voice

Charlotte Tobin - percussion

Josh Dans - bass guitar

Jimi Gregg - drums

Pierce Morton - alto saxophone

Miles Bedford - tenor saxophone

Zoe Fox - voice

Songs written by Nick Van Bakel.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by John Lee at Phaedra Studios.

Photographs taken by Jamie Wdziekonski.

Layout by Jimi Gregg.

Manufactured in Australia by Zenith records. Black vinyl second press of 300 copies.