New Zealand stoner rock veterans Datura released »Visions For The Celestial« vinyl reissue; out now via Ripple Music!

New Zealand early 90s groundbreaking stoner rockers Datura have reissued their quintessential 1999 studio album »Visions For The Celestial« as a part of “Beneath The Desert Floor” special vinyl series on January 17th, 2025 via Ripple Music.

Tracklist:
01. Magnetise
02. Sunshine In Purple
03. Reaching Out
04. Euphoria
05. Voyage
06. Mantra

Courtesy of Purple Sage PR:

Formed in 1992, New Zealand stoner rock veterans Datura could be described as the antipodean answer to Kyuss, Nebula, and Hermano, as in much as their music blends Sabbath-inspired heaviness with spacious grooves and slick blues-infused riffage – a sonic heavy rock spell of the highest order. Their 1999 sophomore album »Visions For The Celestial« melds a hypnotic jam feel with raw, Hendrixian energy, with bassist Craig Williamson’s vibrant soaring vocals instantly drawing you in.

This scorching hot stoner blues gem is brought to you by Ripple Music as part of their “Beneath The Desert Floor” series and is due out on January 17th.

Formed in August 1992 in Hamilton, New Zealand, Datura started as a four-piece Sabbath-worshipping outfit. After a few member changes, the group settled on the lineup of Craig Williamson on bass and vocals, Brent Middlemiss on guitar, and Jon Burnside on drums. Three now long-lost cassette demos ensued they hit the studio to record and then release their February ’98 debut album “All Is One«. Quickly moving forward with intermittent touring and continuing to write new material, the band gathered in the studio again in early 1999, to tape what was to be the final album »Visions For The Celestial«. “Entering the album by the front door, you’ll be greeted by »Magnetize«, a powerful Hendrixian blues rock number with decibels aplenty,” then reviewed All Rock website. “What they do, they do very well, and guitar fans and nostalgic persons of a time when rock was visceral should definitely listen to »Visions For The Celestial«.”

Written by Williamson and jammed on with the band, »Visions For The Celestial« was his outwardly spacious, psychedelic, mindset at the time – his visions for the outer realms of space and time. With a myriad of inspirations ranging from Hawkwind, John Coltrane, Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Sleep, Man’s Ruin Records and acid folk, Datura was set. Says the band: “2025 will be 25 years since their sophomore and last studio album was originally released, and Datura are beyond honoured to have Ripple Music re-release »Visions For The Celestial« once again, in glorious vinyl, for you all to experience!”

»Visions For The Celestial« is the 8th chapter of Californian label Ripple Music’s “Beneath The Desert Floor” vinyl series, which unearths treasures from the golden days of stoner and desert rock with releases from Fireball Ministry, The Awesome Machine, Glitter Wizard, Witch White Canyon, Rollerball, The Sabians and Dear Deceased. All reissues can be streamed and purchased at this location.

Datura »Visions For The Celestial« reissue out now on Ripple Music (LP/digital): Bandcamp preorder / US preorder

Datura is:
Craig Williamson – Bass & vocals
Brent Middlemiss – Guitar
Jon Burnside – Drums

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well