Search - Other People Place :: Lifestyles of the Laptop Cafe

The lighter side of Drexciya

05/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A suprisingly personal message in a bottle from the water warrior...This album was the beginning of legendarily secretive Electro enigma Drexciya's opening to the outside world. As the album was planned as one of seven "storms" in a row (the others, all released on different labels due to the artist's "interdimensional wavejumping" capabilities, are Drexciya's "Harnessed The Storm" and "Grava 4", two Transllusion albums, a Shifted Phases album, and a Lab Rat XXL album that has not been and might never be released), one of the minds behind the band gave a series of personal interviews (including a talk with the wonderful Liz Copeland on WDET fm) on the new concept, and a big local newspaper published an article with previously unexpected personal details. Few months later James Marcel Stinson suffered a lethal heart attack and left a terrible gap in the music world."The Other People Place" stands out from the other "storms" and the artist's opus in general as the most friendly-minded work, phasing the hectic and anger of Drexciya into moody, sometimes slightly kinky daydreams of, simply and plainly, positive things like romance and enjoying sunshine.It has nothing to do with dancefloor techno or trance the way most Americans outside Detroit know it, it hardly bears any inheritance from 80s cowbell Electro anymore, and has nothing to do with trip hop trends, either. Although the drum rhythms are "off the shelf" with the artist's repertoire, the pace is a bit slower, and with all the fluffy synth surroundings they get so sleepy and heavy at times that you'll almost automatically relax.It's just hypnotic electronic music with a romantic mood and a bit of danceable kink, most souvereignly executed and at times emitting a kind of warmth otherwise only found in jazz. Whatever your age and way of life is, if that seems even a tiny bit interesting, buy this CD and hear for yourself."

The Romantic Period of The Drexcyan Storm Series

UGeneGreen | Pluto | 03/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"T.O.P.P. has always been one of my favorite Drexciya side projects.Its some the last work of Drexciya done with James Stinson(RIP).This is a straightforward smooth detroit electro influenced album full of jazzy, atmospheric melodies,spacey sound effects, and eerie repetetive vocals, all about love of course. IMO its the most easily accessible Drexciya album for those not familiar with the duo.Playable all the way through and great for nighttime listening(it really isnt the same listening to this album in the daytime)I recommend getting this one especially while it is still in print at a reasonable price. All of Drexciya and side projects with James Stinson are collectors items since he is deceased(Its also some very good techno that is emulated to this day by artists worldwide). If you get this and like the Drexciya sound or you just want to complete the storm series get Shifted Phases,Drexciya-Harnessed The Storm,Abstract Thought,Lab Rat XL,and the 2 Transllsuion releases-I think they are all available on Amazon. Great Stuff."