Drexciya
Real Name:
James Marcel Stinson, Gerald Donald
Profile:
Detroit electro-techno outfit Drexciya was conceived in 1989, but first came into the public eye in 1994 with "Aquatic Invasion" - the first of a thematic series of releases. Drexciya's James Stinson and Gerald Donald remained hidden behind their alias for much of the group's existence, communicating a complex personal mythology of a "Drexciyan" race of underwater dwellers descended from pregnant slave women thrown overboard during trans-Atlantic deportation. Within this fiction, their music - which they claimed was recorded "live in the studio" rather than programmed - was imagined as a "dimensional jumphole" between their black African roots and the contemporary USA.
Sadly Stinson died suddenly on 3rd September 2002 of a heart condition. Donald continues to produce music under other names.
Sadly Stinson died suddenly on 3rd September 2002 of a heart condition. Donald continues to produce music under other names.
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Reviews & Discussion
Drexciya is the place where i can rest my soul.
I need this because this world is too wild for me. In the water? Hahaha yeah man. I belong to the Aquazone.
Why not space? Space is great! I can only do one thing at the time you know. So we'll do this later? Yeah we will. Yes we will.
Mr. J. Stinson did not know about the hat. We do and take it off for him.
An outer-world achievement was reached. Although in his career he sadly could not fulfill the ultimate presentation. Knowing of his disease and talent we have showed our love. Within our possibilities we supported James to make sure he could reach the goals in his lifespan. The story does continue..
I need this because this world is too wild for me. In the water? Hahaha yeah man. I belong to the Aquazone.
Why not space? Space is great! I can only do one thing at the time you know. So we'll do this later? Yeah we will. Yes we will.
Mr. J. Stinson did not know about the hat. We do and take it off for him.
An outer-world achievement was reached. Although in his career he sadly could not fulfill the ultimate presentation. Knowing of his disease and talent we have showed our love. Within our possibilities we supported James to make sure he could reach the goals in his lifespan. The story does continue..
If you consider all the labels and artists made or influenced by Detroit (Tresor, F-Communications, Luke Slater, Maurizio, Warp... to name a few), then you won't be surprised to discover that Drexciya is the underground wave that gathers the quality Techno universe. Every label with a Drexciya release on it is a good one, just have a look... UR, Rephlex, Warp, Clone, Kombination Research, Intuit-Solar, Gigolo Records, Hardwax... I'm one of the purists who think that Detroit stays the most innovative techno place, and this little list reinforce my idea.
Sometimes, the death of an artist seems to be a sort of blessing in desguise, for it may turn a great but largely ignored - if not missunderstood - talent into someone finally recognised by the general public. If this will be the case with Drexciya (alias: James Stinson) it is not very certain. Truth is, however, his productions were straight ahead of their time, full of twists and turns unknown to many producers. His legacy to the techno and electro sub-genres and electronic music in general is incomensurable and is one which won't be, in my view, universally acknowledged at any time, such was the unique nature of this man's art. RIP, James Stinson!
The colored and clear copies of the Drexciya releases all were re-issued after James Stinson died. It was the record execuitives way to thank him for years of good music and imagination.
The things we DO know about Drexcia are this:
Originally only one member, recording out of his bedroom, first release was "Balance of Terror" on Hardwax released as 'LAM" (Life After Mutation)
The first Drexcia record was "Deep Sea Dweller " on Shockwave.
After this, other members came and went and Drexcia transcended it's original creator and became a political statement.
Originally only one member, recording out of his bedroom, first release was "Balance of Terror" on Hardwax released as 'LAM" (Life After Mutation)
The first Drexcia record was "Deep Sea Dweller " on Shockwave.
After this, other members came and went and Drexcia transcended it's original creator and became a political statement.
Although they released only five EPs in their first ten years recording together, controversial Detroit techno duo Drexciya became one of the most celebrated and influential names in American experimental new skool electro and techno. One of the few groups to use electro/techno as a political tool in effecting criticism of racial inequity and inner-city recovery, Drexciya brought a wider social and aesthetic agenda to a style in which allegiance to the beat is typically the only prerequisite.
Closely associated with the "Mad" Mike Banks label group Underground Resistance and operating in the classically covert tradition of "faceless" techno (the pair's identities remain a mystery), the group's reputation at the bleeding edge of Detroit-school experimentation is pretty much universal, with everyone from Jeff Mills to Mike Paradinas getting in namechecks. Despite their steadfastly underground attitude, Drex's records have found release through such internationally renowned labels as Warp and Rephlex.
Offering an often relentless fusion of early electro and techno with elements of acid and industrial music, Drexciya's fast-beat backbone and tough-as-nails rhythmic bite are among the most austere and uncompromised in contemporary techno. Reportedly, the group record their material live, which gives much of their music (particularly their Shockwave and Underground Resistance releases) a vital, immediate feel. Much of their UR output was collected on 1997's "The Quest", and a full-length "Neptune's Lair" followed on Tresor in 1999.
The duo has now split up, and one half continues to produced under the name Transllusion.
Closely associated with the "Mad" Mike Banks label group Underground Resistance and operating in the classically covert tradition of "faceless" techno (the pair's identities remain a mystery), the group's reputation at the bleeding edge of Detroit-school experimentation is pretty much universal, with everyone from Jeff Mills to Mike Paradinas getting in namechecks. Despite their steadfastly underground attitude, Drex's records have found release through such internationally renowned labels as Warp and Rephlex.
Offering an often relentless fusion of early electro and techno with elements of acid and industrial music, Drexciya's fast-beat backbone and tough-as-nails rhythmic bite are among the most austere and uncompromised in contemporary techno. Reportedly, the group record their material live, which gives much of their music (particularly their Shockwave and Underground Resistance releases) a vital, immediate feel. Much of their UR output was collected on 1997's "The Quest", and a full-length "Neptune's Lair" followed on Tresor in 1999.
The duo has now split up, and one half continues to produced under the name Transllusion.
How did they rise from aquatic hibernation to wavejumping all over the world using high-tech-aquatic-sonic-waves?
By creating The greatest Techno of all time. Analogue Perfection. Innovating, futuristic, original, spontaneous, intelligently produced electronic robot funk including that ohh so important soul/love and dedication to the music, all of which only seem to reside in magical city Detroit. Thats how!
The soul of Techno died with Mr. James Stinson. Rest in Peace Mr. Stinson.