Drexciya: Journey Of The Deep Sea Dweller. Part 2: 1999-2002
Ten years ago, on 3 September 2002, James Stinson died. He was the man behind Drexciya, the mysterious electro/techno project from Detroit. Three programmes are dedicated to Drexciya and several other project of Stinson to commemorate him. Part 1 was broadcasted on 5 September [ link ]
In this second part attention for three albums which were released between 1999 and 2002. Prior to that period Drexciya only released vinyl EPs and a few separate tracks on compilations. A selection of them was brought together on the compilation CD/2LP ‘The Quest’ in 1997.
Not long afterwards rumours spread that the project had finished. It remained quiet for a while. Later it appeared James was seriously ill during that period. But at the end of 1999 all of a sudden the album ‘Neptune’s Lair’ was released on CD and LP by the German label Tresor. It is a master piece. Mysterious and melancholic, experimental as for sounds but approachable as for melodies. The atmosphere is less dark than former EPs.
Again a quiet period around Drexciya afterwards. It appeared to be the calm before the storm…. Meanwhile Stinsen was very productive in several other projects. The collaboration with Gerald Donald was put on the backburner. From then on most releases are solo productions. He left chilly Detroit and moved to Newnan, Georgia ‘for health reasons’.
Early 2002 ‘Harnessed The Storm’ was released. Again the atmosphere is dark and vicious. The analog synthesizers often make way for digital ones. This album is the first one of a series of 7 from the ‘Drexciya Storms Series’. In part 3 of this series of programmes more about that. It will be broadcasted on Wednesday 10 October.
Drexciya – radio interview door Liz Copeland (mei 2002) op YouTube
In June 2002 the album ‘Grava 4′ was also released. The underwater habitat of previous releases made way for an extra-terrestial world. Drexciya even bought his own star (to be found under the co-ordinates RA18h35m37.73 D37’22’31.12"). Grava 4 is quieter and more abstract than previous material.
Three months after the release of Grava 4 Stinson died, just before his 33th birthday.
01. Temple Of Dos De Agua
02. Habitat ‘O’ Negative
03. Surface Terrestrial Colonization
04. Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam
05. Species Of The Pod
06. Quantum Hydrodynamics
07. Soul Of The Sea
08. Dr. Blowfins’ Black Storm Stabilizing Spheres
09. The Plankton Organization
10. Cascading Celestial Giants
11. Drexcyen Star Chamber
12. Astronomical Guidepost
From:
‘Neptune’s Lair’ (Tresor 129) [01-06]
‘Harnessed The Storm’ (Tresor 181) [07-09]
‘Grava 4’ (Clone C#25) [10-12]
mix & edits: DJ Zero One
