Darxtar History.

[Henrik Hallgren]

                                  Darxtar

               ...in the dark zones a presentation 1995.
                            Darxtar history.

The Darxtar project was started in late 1989 when "Commander" K. Soren Bengtsson
was asked by Acid tapes, UK to record a full lenght cassette for their label.
He began recording on his own using drum-machine, synth and a small computer
apart from his normal use of vocal and guitar, all put down on a small portastudio.
Halfway through the recording he was joined by "Captain" Juba Nurmenniemi who
treated the bass, vocals and additional synth and guitar. They had similar
interrest in the space-rock tradition pioneered by Pink floyd, Hawkwind & Gong
so the musical direction was an easy choice. The debut release (Darxtar, Acid
tapes TAB071) was well received by the few who cared to listen. One of them
happened to be the boss for German record label SPM who decided to release it on
CD late 1991 (SPM/WWRCD0029). By the time the CD was released the Commander and
Captain was already finished with their 2:nd collaboral recording (Darker, Garageland
GRCD005) and one of the songs originally intended for it "High tide" had been
released on the Acid tape comp. cassette "Isotopic moments" (Acid tapes TAB082).
Although the 1:st CD got some good reviews, SPM was not interrested in releasing
"Darker", leaving it archived until spring 1993 when Garageland decided to give
it a try (couldn't be that bad since it's sold out and deleted...).
During this period "Dr. Patric" Danielsson had joined on drums but he didn't
appear on disc until spring 1994 when Garageland released a compilation CD
"Let your freak flag fly" with one new Darxtar track "UFO". It was recorded
already in Sep. 1993 and "Fred&Ric" Sundquist (violin) was forced into the band
just before they were to enter the studio. By autumn 1993 "Darklord" Soren
Martensson completed the line-up on hammond & synth and they were ready to make
their debut as a live band in November same year. In the beginning of 1994 the
recording of "Daybreak" started, their most interresting work to date.
The Commander decided to release it himself due to lack of interrest from other
companies, and it was out in August 1994 (SBM CDA001). This is the record that
finally put Darxtar on the R & R map, great reviews almost everywhere despite
a lower than acceptable recording budget! Gigs in Europe followed and Fredric
decided to take a break while Juba was sacked in Dec.1994. He was replaced by
young bassist & singer Marcus "Marcurius" Pehrsson who proved to be the vitamin
injection the band needed. We now write August 1995 and the four explorers have
just completed the recording of their latest journey into the unknown territories
of progressive music. Whatever you will think of it when it's released, we can
assure you that it takes the sound of Darxtar into yet another zone, the 7:th?
It will be released by Black Widow Records later this year, so stay put and
we'll let you know! Also in the pipeline is a Norwegian ltd.ed. compilation from
Briskeby Records and a doubleCD US release from Cleopatra called "Space rock,
a brief history" both featuring tracks by this cosmic band.

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