2017 is off to a wonderful start with Banana’s debut album, LIVE, dropping later this month. Led by artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Josiah Steinbrick, Banana also features Cate Le Bon, Stella Mozgawa, Josh Klinghoffer, Huw Evans, and Stephen Black. Informed by Jon Hassell’s concept of ‘fourth world music’, the project “brings a free-form, eclectic sound that touches on various temporal and musical references from minimalism, abstract jazz, South East Asian ceremonials and exotica”, as the press release describes. Steinbrick explains how the album was conceived:

“LIVE was recorded live to reel to reel tape on March 29th, 2016 to be aired as a special on [Los Angeles online radio platform] Dublab. This incarnation of the ensemble came together to serve as backing group for Cate Le Bon’s “Crab Day” promotional tour as well as the opening act. We performed in Brussels, Paris, Istanbul, Cardiff, London, Los Angeles, and New York City. BANANA was a new experience for us. The sound of musicians I feel very connected to playing freely around composed pieces under my direction – exploring themes and theories of naturalism and modalism through repetition. For those in search of a bath, a rinse, a departure, or an expansion. Hopefully exotic, hopefully pleasant.”

Ahead of its release on January 27th via Leaving Records, Banana have shared the first single, ‘Banana C’, a track engulfed in beauty and radiance. Listen to it now.