Bananagun’s small but mighty catalogue is littered with way out sounds, the kind of freaky psychedelic blend that can incorporate afrobeat and tropicalia rhythms amid the legacy of Syd, Roky, and co. Last year’s rightly lauded ‘Why Is The Colour Of The Sky?’ continued their journey, a stellar selection of cosmic nuggets that – Clash writer Sam-Walker Smart opined – was a sound 100% their own.
Set to hit the road for a very rare UK tour, Bananagun are loading up their cases with freaky discs to inspire them – writing for Clash, the band break down the outernational sounds that fuel their psychedelic vision.
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JAZZ
Sun Ra – ‘Love in Outer Space’ (Vocal)
There’s something a bit disjointed about this song – in a lot of Sun Ra music actually – that seems to seep into a lot of the music we create when together. The confidence in this style of playing, not placing too much emphasis on how tight everything is, but rather in the feel, and also repeating some kind of musical mantra is something we all embody.
No doubt, Sun Ra and his Arkestra have had an input into our music and the way we feel it out.
PSYCH
Teddy & His Patches – ‘Suzy Creamcheese’
This one is a perfect example of our interest in psychedelic – equal parts of both Pink Floyd’s and 13th Floor Elevators’ debut albums, which is what opened us up to psyche as teenagers, the type that you go back to after heaps of trying to recapture that feeling of discovery.
AFRICA
De Frank Professionals – ‘Afe Ato Yen Bio’
This track perfectly encapsulates and maximises everything that sucked me into African music (at large but mostly the western countries) and also Diaspora African American music. Well, especially the cross pollination of the two and hybrid jams like this based in traditional guitar playing, adapted to electric guitar, James Brown established his roots with the beat returning to the one always.
BRAZIL
Caetano Veloso – ‘Ave Maria’
Os Mutantes opened the door with their first album, but that lead to Caetano which overall has been a bigger influence. It’s a shame to overlook his music because it’s equally impressive. For me his attitude and approach toward lyrics has been an enduring influence beyond genre. If you take the time to translate them – romantic, rebellious, esoteric, eternal themes.
GARAGE
United Travel Service – ‘Drummer Of Your Mind’
There’s endless garage from America and way more dog shit comps than good ones. This band, album and song are a cut above all of it. They are my favourite type of garage band: young and bold, pure and strong. Lyrics about love, society, self; poetic and naive but more brave and badass because twenties bring the kind of bigger questions and stoic vibes you will get from these legends. All the teenage frat bands would’ve settled down by now.
Catch Bananagun on tour:
May
8 Bristol Rough Trade
9 Southampton Heartbreakers
10 Brighton Hope & Ruin
12 Birmingham Hare & Hounds (supporting Rose City Band)
13 London Moth Club
14 Manchester YES Basement
15 Glasgow Glad Café
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