The Countdown Has Begun
Liquid Dystopia

Drexciya drains the claps, cowbells and tomtoms, siphons off the salsa from Electro. With the vocoder id deleted, 90s Electro becomes even more enthralling, even more inhibiting. Such tracks as '93's Danger Bay and Positron Island are monsters from the low end which submerge you in liquid dystopia. Acrid frequencies clench the nerves like tazers, oscillations wince across the body in wave motion, abrasive tones remove cotton wool from your ears and vigorously scour inside the brainpan. Jagged snare velocities pinch the nerves until you're locked uptight. Sea Snake's scorching deathray sweeps the seacraters with its acoustic searchlight of astringent 303.

Each Drexicya EP -- from '92's Deep Sea Dweller, through Bubble Metropolis, Molecular Enhancement, Aquatic Invasion, The Unknown Aquazone, The Journey Home and Return of Drexciya to '97's Uncharted -- militarizes Parliament's 70s and Hendrix's 60s Atlantean aquatopias. Their underwater paradise is hydroterritorialized into a geopolitical subcontinent mapped through cartographic track titles: Positron Island, Danger Bay, The Red Hills of Lardossa, The Basalt Zone 4.977Z, The Invisible City, Dead Man's Reef, Vampire Island, Neon Falls, Bubble Metropolis. The Bermuda Triangle becomes a basstation from which wavejumper commandos and the 'dreaded Drexciya stingray and barracuda battalions' launch their Aquatic Invasion against the AudioVisual Programmers.

Marine Mutation across the Black Atlantic

Every Drexciya EP navigates the depths of the Black Atlantic, the submerged worlds populated by Drexciyans, Lardossans, Darthouven Fish Men and Mutant Gillmen. In the sleevenotes to The Quest, their '97 concept double CD, the Drexciyans are revealed to be a marine species descended from 'pregnant America-bound African slaves' thrown overboard 'by the thousands during labour for being sick and disruptive cargo. Could it be possible for humans to breathe underwater? A foetus in its mother's womb is certainly alive in an aquatic environment. Is it possible that they could have given birth at sea to babies that never needed air? Recent experiments have shown mice able to breathe liquid oxygen, a premature human infant saved from certain death by breathing liquid oxygen through its underdeveloped lungs. These facts combined with reported sightings of Gillmen and Swamp Monsters in the coastal swamps of the Southeastern United States make the slave trade theory startingly feasible.'

Drexciyans are 'water breathing, aquatically mutated descendants,' webbed mutants of the Black Atlantic, amphibians adapted for the ocean's abyssal plains, a phylum disconnected from the aliens who adapted to land. As Mark Sinker argued in '92, 'The ships landed long ago: they already laid waste whole societies, abducted and genetically altered whole swathes of citizenry. Africa and America -- and so by extension Europe and Asia -- are already in the various ways Alien Nation.' Drexciya use electronics to replay the alien abduction of slavery with a fictional outcome: 'Did they migrate from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi River Basin and to the Great Lakes of Michigan? Do they walk among us? Are they more advanced than us?'

Sinker's breakthrough is to bring alien abduction back to earth, to transfer the trauma from out there to yesternow. The border between social reality and science fiction, social fiction and science reality is an optical illusion, as Donna Haraway has pointed out. They have been here all along and they are you. You are the alien you are looking for.

Fictionalizing Frequencies

Drexciya fictionalize frequencies into sound pictures of unreal environments -- what Kraftwerk termed tone films -- not filled with cars, bikes or trains but rather UAOs, soundcrafts. In '93's Bubble Metropolis, Lardossan Cruiser 8-203 X prepares to dock. The tones of a hydrothermal turbine engine shift gears. They fictionalize the psychoacoustic volume of a giant submersible: 'This is Drexciyan Cruise Control Bubble 1 to Lardossan Cruiser 8 dash 203 X. Please decrease your speed to 1 point 788 point 4 kilobahn. Unknown turbine engine slows down. Thank you. Lardossan Cruiser 8 dash 203 X please use extra caution as you pass the aqua contruction site on the side of a aquabahn. I repeat: Proceed with Caution. Lardossan Cruiser 8 dash 203 X you are now cleared for docking. Have a nice stay here on Drexciya. I'm Drexciyan Cruiser Control X 205. If you have any problems let me know. Bubble Control Out.'

In a War without Weapons

The Black Atlantean depths are as lethal as the Red Planet or The Rings of Saturn. With the Molecular Enhancement EP, the ocean floor becomes the 5th front in The Forever War. Drexciyan technology solidifies the ocean into hydrocubes. These blocs of solid water are part of the electrofictional arsenal of Antivapor Waves, Aquatic Bata Particles and Intensified Magnetrons.

The magnetron is the heart of the radiowave transmitter, used to power airborne microwave radar sets during WW2. As Arthur C. Clarke explains, 'When the first experimental magnetron was carried to America, the face of war changed over a weekend. Japanese scientists had made and tested an identical device a year before the British. If they had followed up their invention we would now be living in a very different world.'

Technology generates the process Sun Ra terms an AlterDestiny, a bifurcation in time. The magnetron migrates across the mediascape, changing scale from Marvel Comics 60s supervillain Magneto, leader of the Evil Mutants, to Drexciya's Intensified Magnetron, to Killah Priest's 'magnetron which puts your arteries back apart'.

From 'More Brilliant Than The Sun: Adventures In Sonic Fiction' by Kodwo Eshun, pp. 06[083] - 06[085] (Quartet Books, London, 1998). Reprinted with a permission.

DISCOGRAPHY :

REPHLEX (UK)

Drexciya - Drexciya 3: Molecular Enhancement EP (12") - CAT017EP - 1996
Side 1. Alpha:
1. Antivapor Waves
2. Intensifies Magnetron
Side 2. Beta:
3. Hydro Cubes
4. Aquatic Bata Particles
Songs under license from Underground Resistance Detroit, U.S.A. Special thanks to: God and Mad Mike from U.R. All songs were particle accelerated by Drexciya in Drexciya, ion filtered at Black Planet Studio in Detroit.
NOTE: released also on Submerge as SVE-6 (with different track list).

SHOCKWAVE (Detroit, MI., USA)

Drexciya - Deep Sea Dweller EP (12") - SW1007 - 1993
A1. Sea Quake
A2. Nautilus 12
B1. Depressurization
B2. Sea Snake
Written, mixed and produced by Drexciya.
Published by Dance Threat Music (BMI)
Inscriptions: Side A: "Techno From The Deep" / Side B: "Deep H2O"
NOTE: the first Drexciya release.

SOMEWHERE IN DETROIT (Detroit, MI., USA)

Drexciya - Uncharted EP - S.I.D-005
A. Hi-Tide
B. Dr. Blowfin's Experiment
NOTE: The S.I.D. series 12's were EP's that were supposed to be exclusive to the Submerge Somewhere In Detroit store. The idea was that the only way you could get them was to physically visit the shop on the ground floor of Submerge's building. A few of them occasionally turn up at other shops, though. There were a few previously unreleased tracks from Drexciya, UR, and a couple of other artists released this way.
Thanks to Submerge's refusal to play the "release and delete" game, though, these don't fetch the exorbitant prices a lot of other limited availability releases do. - Dave Walker on IDM list

SUBMERGE (Detroit, MI., USA)

Drexciya - Drexciya 4: The Unknown Aquazone 2xEP (2x12") - SVE-3 - 1994
1. Intro
2. Living On The Edge
3. Aqua Jujidsu
4. Aquabahn
5. Mantaray
6. Lardossen Funk
7. Take Your Mind
8. Intro
9. Aquarazorda
10. Bubble Chamber
11. Water Walker
12. Red Hills Of Lardossa

Drexciya - Drexciya 3: Molecular Enhancement - SVE-6 - 1995
1. Anti-Beats
2. Antivapor Waves
3. Intensified Magnetron
4. Bata-Pumps
5. Hydro Cubes
6. Aquatic Bata Particles
Produced by Drexciya
NOTE: released also on Rephlex (CAT017EP) with different track list.

Drexciya - The Quest (2x12" / 2-CD) - SVE-8 - July 1997

CD 1: 1. Intro (?) 2. You Don't Know (UR-039) 3. Dehydration (unreleased) 4. Bang Bang (UR-037) 5. Antivapor Waves (SVE-6) 6. Intensified Magnetron (SVE-6) 7. Hydro Cubes (SVE-6) 8. Aquatic Bata Particles (SVE-6) 9. Hi Tide (S.I.D.-005) 10. Depressurization (SW-1007) 11. Sea Snake (SW-1007) 12. Aqua Jujidsu (SVE-3) 13. Beyond The Abyss (UR-026) 14. Lardossen Funk (SVE-3) 15. Red Hills Of Lardossa (SVE-3) 16. The Mutant Gillmen (an experiment gone wrong)

CD 2: 1. Seaquake (SW-1007) 2. Bubble Metropolis (UR-026) 3. Living On The Edge (Instrumental) (SVE-3) 4. Aquabon (Remix) (SVE-3) 5. Positron Island (UR-026) 6. Doctor Blowfin's Water Cruiser (UR-026) 7. Wave Jumper (UR-030) 8. Take Your Mind (SVE-3) 9. Dead Man's Reef (unreleased) 10. Vampire Island (unreleased) 11. Neon Falls (unreleased) 12. The Last Transmission (?)

Vinyl version (SVE-7, 2x12"):

A1. Depressurization (Bonus Beats)
A2. Beyond The Abyss
A3. You Don't Know
B1. Living On The Edge (Instr.)
B2. Aquabon (Remix)
C1. Reff Rhythms (Bonus Beat)
C2. WaveJumper
D1. Dr. Blowfin's Watercruiser
D2. Bubble Metropolis

All songs produced by Drexciya.

NOTE: a compilation with 28 tracks on CD; also a shorter version as a 2x12".

TRESOR, Berlin, Germany

Drexciya - Neptune's Lair (2-LP/CD) - Tresor 129 - November 1999

CD: 1. Intro: Temple of Dos de Agua 2. Species of the Pod 3. Andreaen Sand Dunes 4. Running Out of Space 5. Habitat.O.Negative 6. Universal Element 7. Drifting Into a Time of No Future 8. Polymono Plexusgel 9. Surface Terrestrial Colonization 10. Funk Release Valve 11. Organic Hydropoly Spores 12. Draining of the Tanks 13. Devil Ray Cove 14. Fusion Flats 15. Triangular Hydrogen Strain 16. Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam 17. Quantum Hydrodynamics 18. Lost Vessel 19. Bottom Feeders 20. Jazzy Fluids 21. C to the Power of X+C to the Power of X=MM=Unknown

2xLP: A1. Intro: Temple of Dos de Agua A2. Andreaen Sand Dunes A3. Running Out of Space A4. Universal Element B1. Habitat.O.Negative B2. Funk Release Valve B3. Organic Hydropoly Spores B4. Draining of the Tanks C1. Surface Terrestrial Colonization C2. Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam D1. Triangular Hydrogen Strain D2. Bottom Feeders D3. C to the Power of X+C to the Power of X=MM=Unknown

Drexciya - Hydro Doorways EP (12") - Tresor 137 - February 2000
A1. Quantum Hydrodynamics (01:16)
A2. Polymono Plexusgel (03:08)
A3. Lost Vessel (05:52)
B1. Species of the Pod (03:53)
B2. Drifting Into a Time of No Future (03:33)
B3. Devil Ray Cove (02:49)

UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE (Detroit, MI., USA)

Drexciya - Drexciya: Aquatic Invasion EP (12") - UR 30 - 1994
1. WaveJumper
2. The Countdown Has Begun
3. Sighting In The Abyss
NOTE: Aquatic Invasion is not Drexciya 1. If anything is, Deep Sea Dweller is. That's the first Drexciya release, but it's not labelled Drexciya 1 either. So technically speaking, there is no Drexciya 1. - rbc3

Drexciya - Drexciya 2: Bubble Metropolis EP (12") - UR-026 - 1994

Side A: Fresh Water 1. Aqua Worm Hole [5:25] 2. Positron Island [4:05] 3. Beyond The Abyss [2:17]

Side B: Salt Water 4. Bubble Metropolis [6:00] 5. Danger Bay [3:20] 6. Welcome To Drexciya [2:09]

Tracks made in Drexciya for UR in Detroit.

Drexciya - The Return of Drexciya - UR-037 - 1996
A1. Smokey's Illegitimate Report
A2. You Don't Know
B1. Bang-Bang
B2. Rubick's Cube
Surfaced by Drexciya for Underground Resistance Prod.
Compiled (p) Mad Mike Music (BMI) 1996

Inscriptions:
Side A: "You don't know -- what lurks in the fog"

NOTE: label art by Frankie C. Fultz.

WARP RECORDS (Sheffield, UK)

Drexciya - Drexciya 5: The Journey Home EP (12") - WAP57 - 1995
1. Black Sea
2. Darthouven Fish Men
3. Hydro Theory
4. Journey Home

Compilation appearances:

ELYPSIA RECORDS
Various Artists
The Rave Explosion - The Underground Continues..Vol 2. (2-CD)
1995
A4. Drexciya: Black Sea (Warp)

REACT MUSIC (London, UK)
Various Artists
True People: The Detroit Techno Album (CD / 5x12")
REACTCD71/REACTLP71
1996
* A1. Drexciya: Davey Jones Locker
(Drexciya) BMI. (p) & Compiled 1996.

STUDIO !K7 (Germany)
Various Artists
Andrea Parker: DJ-Kicks (3-LP/CD)
K 7071LP/K 7071CD
24 August 1998
* 19. Drexciya: Hydro Theory (Warp)
NOTE: The 3-LP is unmixed.

Various Artists
Aux 88 presents Electro Boogie (2-LP/CD)
K7078LP/K7078CD
1999
* 16. Drexciya: Bubblemetropolis (UR)
NOTE: The 2-LP is unmixed.

SUBMERGE (Detroit, MI., USA)
Various Artists
Submerge: Depth Charge Two - Escape Into The Void (CD)
SCD-2
1995
* 14. Drexciya: Welcome To Drexciya (2:09)
Produced by Drexciya for Underground Resistance. Produced
in Detroit, MI -- Taken from "Bubble Metropolis" EP. -- Mad
Mike Music (BMI).

Various Artists
Origins Of A Sound (CD) - SVE 4 - 1995
* 2. Drexciya: The Countdown Has Begun
(Produced by Drexciya for Underground Resistance
Productions, Det., MI. USA.
Recorded at Black Planet.)
* 5. Drexciya: Living On The Edge
(Produced by Drexciya for Underground Resistance /
Submerge, Det., MI. USA.
Recorded at Invisible City.)
* 8. Drexciya: Wave Jumper
(Produced by Drexciya for Underground Resistance
Productions, Det., MI. USA.
Recorded at Black Planet.)

TRESOR (Berlin, Germany) / POW WOW / METROPLEX (US)
Various Artists - Deep Detroit Volume 2 - Magic Tracks Compiled By Juan Atkins (CD) - PWD7445 - 1993
* Drexciya: Positron Island (5:15)
NOTE: The track is misspellt as: "Drexcya: Positron I Stand".

UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE (Detroit, MI., USA)

Various Artists
Interstellar Fugitives (3-LP/CD) - UR-045 - August 1998
* 8. Drexciya: Interstellar Crime Report
* 9. Drexciya: Aquatacizem
NOTE: a compilation of unreleased tracks from Mad Mike, Drexciya, The Suburban Knight, Andre Holland, et al.

Various Artists
DJ Rolando - "The Aztec Mystic Mix CD" - UR049 CD - 1999
* Drexciya: Dr. Blowfin's Experiment
NOTE: originally released on SID05; all tracks mixed together by DJ Rolando, so not the full-length version.

Remixes:
UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE (Detroit, MI., USA) - UR - Electronic Warfare "The Mixes" (12") - UR-034
* Proton Side 2) Electric Eel Mix by Drexciya

Related:
(unknown label)
Glass Domain - English & Music by Glassware - cat # - 04753 - 1991
A. Shatter Prone
B. Hiccups
C. Faory
D. Interlock
NOTE: ltd clear vinyl, and some black vinyl.
NOTE 2: very rare, Drexciya people behind this release.

HARDWAX (Detroit, USA?)
L.A.M. (Life After Mutation) - Balance of Terror EP - HW 004 - early 1990's?
* 6 tracks (with no titles)
NOTE: A pre-Drexciyan release is without a doubt the L.A.M. record on Rob Hood's Hardwax label. There are no inscriptions in the record (apart from NSC, of course). The A-side runs from inside out whereas the B side is normal. I do not know the publication date but considering the publication policy of Hardwax (number 10 was published this spring) the record came out in the early 90's. - Benjamin Holzwarth

RED PLANET (Detroit, MI., USA)
Red Planet V: The Long Winter of Mars - RP-5 - Year: ?
NOTE: A guest appearance from Drexciya.


CREDITS:
Alan M. Parry (his discography on Hyperreal), Ines Ackermann, Mario Atienza, pHinn, rbc3, Mark S-Walker, Dave Walker, Benjamin Holzwarth and people on 313 and IDM mailing lists.

DREXCIYA RUMOURS:
It is rumoured that one or more Drexciya members have been or are at the moment in such groups as Elecktroids and Dopplereffekt. Even "Mad Mike" Banks has been connected with Drexciya once or more times. Since very few people know the actual identities of Drexciya, these rumours will undoubtedly go on and on.

DISCLAIMER: This is an unofficial, uncommercial, non-profit fan tribute/info page with no intention to rip anyone off. All images are copyrighted by the respective record labels.

Text reprinted with permission from pHinnWeb