Episode 99: Chris Bangs – Co-Producer of Above The Clouds + DJ, Producer & Composer, Bangs & Talbot…

Chris Bangs was a pioneering and inspirational figure in the British underground dance scene of the 80s and 90s and helped to light up the burgeoning black music dance scene of the early eighties. 

Towards the end of the 80s, Chris really hit pay dirt as a musical trend-setter with the invention of the Acid Jazz genre and as a producer and artist responsible for many early recordings on Eddie Piller’s Acid Jazz label and Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud (producing Galliano’s celebrated debut album).

His talents were soon spotted outside of the acid jazz scene with Paul Weller utilising Chris’ production skills on one of the stand out tracks from his debut solo album – Above The Clouds.
The song is a favourite of so many fans, and Paul still features it on current tours.

This liaison led to a partnership with Paul’s former Style Council-er Mick Talbot as Yada Yada AKA SoundscapeUK – one of a whole range of projects marked by the Bangs stamp that have secured commercial and critical acclaim from the USA, Japan, Europe and Australia.

As well as an extensive global career in the music world with releases in the USA, Japan and all over Europe as well as countless UK releases, Chris has been writing and producing music for Film and TV for many years now with his music in major brand ads, films and countless TV shows in the USA and around the world.

Have a listen to our podcast chat with a surprise special guest popping up during our conversation too!

Click your preferred podcast platform to listen…

1992 – Paul Weller – Above The Clouds – Co-Produced with Chris Bangs

2022 – Chris Bangs & Mick Talbot – Back To Business

Back To Business is an exhilarating, contemporary fusion of timeless genres on an album that perfectly distils all these sounds to create the ultimate-sounding Acid Jazz record by two legends of the scene. 

Buy the album on Digital Download, CD or Vinyl here

Producing Paul Weller… Read more…

You can read more on the making of Above The Clouds on Chris’ website here

Chris Bangs – Music Links

Yada Yada AKA Soundscape UK (with Mick Talbot)

1996 – Subculture: 
Fresh from finishing his first album as the Quiet Boys, Chris was producing Galliano’s debut album for Talking Loud. He was cutting some tracks with vibes maestro Roy Ayers and Gilles had bought Paul Weller along to the session. They needed some ultra cool Rhodes paint for the album and Paul suggested getting Mick in. A few days later Mick turned up and set about ripping up the studio with his super-funkiness. He was so great that Chris pulled the release of the Quiet Boys album to recut a few of the tracks with Mick playing Fender Rhodes and Clavinet. Much Nicer !! A few months later Chris phoned Mick and said “Hey ! Let’s make an album “ So they did and this is the fruits of their labours.
You can buy the album here or listen on Spotify

1997 – Piktures:
After the global success of the first Yada Yada album “Subculture” with licensed releases in USA, Japan, Germany, Italy and the UK, Mick and Chris reconvened to write and record a new album. They locked themselves away in the studio for 15 days straight and by the end had come out with an album, mixed there and then. Just about the quickest and easiest project Chris has ever been involved with. 
You can buy the album here or listen on Spotify

1999 – Fingalikking Good: https://open.spotify.com/album/6EvEOiAwC9ZUmi6paHd3nn?si=4Oi3Oi-SR3a3mQQx4p5jRg

The Quiet Boys
1996 – Bosh: https://open.spotify.com/album/2HbZzv8puv4OrDL90MluOh?si=M4wQ7Gg0Qleh8MxJxID8_g
1995 – Dazzle: You can buy the album on Bandcamp or listen on Spotify

Chris Bangs
Takin’ Care Of Business: 
https://open.spotify.com/album/7oCIDyRozAzQAq5Yjuxiit?si=NyHAkEOkRua38tZsD9vB4g

Bangs & Talbot
Singles
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0F90JySqcxbUMjDWokSXy7?si=KCenvw2zQTSmBk3TzrVHGQ