Bananagun Why Is the Colour of the Sky?
Early read based on 2 professional reviews. Bananagun's Why Is the Colour of the Sky? arrives as a sunlit, percussion-driven ode to retro psychedelia that frequently pays off in full-bodied grooves and analogue warmth. Across professional reviews the record earned a 74/100 consensus score from 2 reviews, and critics repeatedly single out songs that marry afrobea
The best song(s) blend African rhythms, jazz and biting guitar, notably ‘Children Of The Man’ and ‘Feeding The Moon’.
is a rewarding listen for those drawn to groove, retro psychedelia and collective, analogue production; it may not fully transcend its influences, but its best tracks make a persua
Best for listeners looking for collective creativity and humanity vs technology, starting with Feeding the Moon and Brave Child of a New World.
Full consensus notes
Bananagun's Why Is the Colour of the Sky? arrives as a sunlit, percussion-driven ode to retro psychedelia that frequently pays off in full-bodied grooves and analogue warmth. Across professional reviews the record earned a 74/100 consensus score from 2 reviews, and critics repeatedly single out songs that marry afrobeat rhythm, spiritual-jazz flourishes and 1960s studio texture as the album's strongest moments.
Critics consistently praise standout tracks like “Feeding the Moon”, “Brave Child of a New World” and “With the Night” for their mix of freak-beat energy, cosmic jazz excursions and taut guitar work. Reviewers note the band’s move toward a live, collective recording approach gives the collection an immediate, human quality; Clash Music highlights the analogue warmth and infectious energy on “Children of the Man” and “Feeding the Moon”, while Tinnitist credits the opener “Brave Child of a New World” and the percussion-forward cuts with capturing the album’s bold, mysterious spirit.
At the same time critics caution that nostalgia for 1960s aesthetics sometimes slips into over-referential territory, prompting questions about originality versus homage. The critical consensus suggests Why Is the Colour of the Sky? is a rewarding listen for those drawn to groove, retro psychedelia and collective, analogue production; it may not fully transcend its influences, but its best tracks make a persuasive case for the band's evolving artistry.
Below, professional reviews unpack where the record excels and where it holds back in Bananagun's catalog.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Brave Child of a New World
2 mentions
"Recorded with minimal takes and on vintage analogue gear, the record’s organic atmosphere becomes evident with the opening groove of ‘Brave Child of a New World."— Clash Music
Feeding the Moon
2 mentions
"At its best – namely ‘Children Of The Man,’ ‘Feeding The Moon’ – ‘Why is the Colour of the Sky’ borders on being a fusion record"— Clash Music
Children of the Man
2 mentions
"At its best – namely ‘Children Of The Man,’ ‘Feeding The Moon’ – ‘Why is the Colour of the Sky’ borders on being a fusion record"— Clash Music
At its best – namely ‘Children Of The Man,’ ‘Feeding The Moon’ – ‘Why is the Colour of the Sky’ borders on being a fusion record
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Brave Child of a New World
Children of the Man
Those Who Came Before
Feeding the Moon
Gift of the Open Hand
With the Night
Hippopotamusic
Free Energy
Wonder Part I
Wonder Part II
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Bananagun have made an album that feels pro-human and alive, and on Why Is the Colour of the Sky? it is the grooves that win you over. There is praise throughout for the band’s shift from slick sunshine-pop to a rawer, collective recording approach, and those are the best tracks on Why Is the Colour of the Sky? because they capture the album’s bold, mysterious spirit and emphatic percussion-forward intent.
Key Points
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The album’s core strengths are its percussion-forward grooves, spiritual-jazz touches, and pro-human, communal recording approach.
Themes
Critic's Take
Bananagun return with Why Is the Colour of the Sky?, a record that shines when it leans into freewheeling, live-sounding psych-pop, particularly on “Children Of The Man” and “Feeding The Moon”. Sam Walker-Smart praises the album's analogue warmth and infectious energy, admiring how grooves like “Brave Child of a New World” and “With the Night” conjure a five-decade-old studio feel. Yet he is clear that mimicry of 1960s icons sometimes leaves the band sounding over-referential rather than fully original. Overall, the best tracks are those that fuse African rhythms and jazz with taut guitar work, making them standouts on an enjoyable but not quite stellar sophomore outing.
Key Points
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The best song(s) blend African rhythms, jazz and biting guitar, notably ‘Children Of The Man’ and ‘Feeding The Moon’.
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The album's core strengths are its analogue, live-feel production and infectious, freewheeling psych-pop energy.
Themes
