Fusing the latest cutting edge styles of progressive electronic dance music with foundations of deep tribal rhythms and live vocals, MEDICINE DRUM are recognized as one of the early music pioneers to cross the boundaries of electronica, where organic meets digital. Founded in London in 1994 by percussionist and Earthdance founder Chris Deckker, their music is a rich hybrid of styles and textures. Not quite psy-trance, not quite techno and not quite future-dub, Medicine Drum blend all these styles while interlacing them with driving, earthy tribal percussion and world music influences.
Medicine Drum's sound and style has always been individual and mystical. The band has supported some of the biggest names in dance music including Moby, The Chemical Brothers, The Orb, Juno Reactor and Sound Tribe Sector 9 - and has played all over the world including Japan, Morocco, South Africa, Canada, London, Glastonbury Festival UK, Australia, Israel, Mexico, Europe, and the USA.
Medicine Drum are back with a new all star line up featuring band founder Chris Deckker on percussion & programming, Rara Avis on guitars & programming, Wisdom, Dakini Star (The Goddess Alchemy Project), Dominic Dean Breaux on Sax & Flutes, and Lilla D'Mone on vocals.
Medicine Drum continue to stretch the boundaries of electronica with their dynamic live shows which often include ritual dance theatre and performances by indigenous artists such as Native American drummers, African musicians and dancers. Their cutting edge sound and visually stunning stage presence continues to draw critical acclaim from around the world.
"...Watching them play live today is like a dance through time, a heady slide into the depths of rhythms from the past and a dizzying propulsion into the sounds of the morrow." -- Kary Stewart (Ignite Media London)
BAND HISTORY
... From the heady days of Return To The Source at Brixton Academy, London in 1995, through to the scorched dust of Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada... Medicine Drum have charted a unique course through the outer realms of the electronic music world.
The band was founded in London in 1995 by visionary percussionist and Earthdance founder Chris Deckker. Sensing a connection between the modern futuristic dance music sounds and the primal, ancient trance-inducing rhythms of tribal drummers, Deckker fused the two forms in a totally unique and distinctive way. The resulting 'electro-organic' soundscape was instantly appealing to the 'modern tribalism' of a rapidly growing global, youth dance community.
The band's "first incarnation" - a collaboration between Deckker and renowned electronic music producer Andy Guthrie of Banco de Gaia, caused a sensation in the underground music world. The combination of Deckker's driving, fiery percussion and Guthrie's bass-heavy, dub-influenced techno style created instant popularity and resulted in the classic trance / techno album "Supernature" - as well as live performances all over the world. Among the standout tracks from the Supernature album was "Alpha Return" - chosen as one of the top 15 electronic music videos by MTV Amp.
Chris's other notable creations of that time included "Anubis" - a studio project with Simon Posford of "Shpongle" fame, and vocalist Neera - which resulted in wonderful tracks such as "Invocation" - released on the Eclipse - A Journey Of Permanence & Impermanence compilation.
After moving to San Francisco in 1999, Deckker took the Medicine Drum concept even further by introducing other artists and new instrumentation to the band. From 1999 to 2002 classically-trained violinist and ABA Structure producer Kenji Williams added his musicianship and dexterity to the band's sound along with internationally recognized singer Irina Mikhailova. Medicine Drum's live show also often featured legendary live "ritual dance theater" performances from "The Shakti Spirit Dancers" - Shiela, Marisa and Jessica - and the band caused a sensation with legendary live performances such as the Burning Man Community Stage in 1999 and Return To The Source in May 2000 at Mt. Fuji, Japan.
From 1999 to 2005 Medicine Drum collaborated with innovative electronic music producer, composer and keyboard wizard Alex Newman, who initially featured as co-producer on two tracks on Medicine Drum's 1999 album, "Talking Stick", before becoming a full time band member in 2001. The creative synergy between them helped forge a new direction for the band with Newman's intricate compositions and unique production style which can be found most notably on Medicine Drum's third album, "Original Face", released on Cyber Octave/Virgin Records.
In 2002, the band was also joined by devotional singer Suzanne Sterling, whose soaring, powerful voice and dynamic stage presence added a magical atmosphere to the live shows. Also in 2002, the razor-sharp lyrical skills of Wisdom (a.k.a. Tevya Jones) were added to the band, adding a more contemporary sound of electro-Hip Hop fusion.
From 2002 to 2005 the band performed across the USA - often featuring other artists, such as noted percussionist Mingo Lewis Jr., and Native American drum/dance group Eagle Spirit.
Now - in 2008 - Medicine Drum is back, with a new lineup and a fantastic all-new live show! Another chapter in the long and meandering Medicine Drum story is unfolding.... and as the page turns, who knows what the future will bring? Like smoke from the incense Medicine Drum is ever changing, always taking new forms and new faces, dancing to the will of the breeze and forever part of the mystery....
