Morphius Records

20 Years of Breaking Records

[morphiusrecords]

ReR Megacorp Releases

Co-founded in 1978 by Chris Cutler, London-based ReR Megacorp remains a musician-led independent label and something of a legend in its own time. Blithely disregarding market wisdom, it continues to release titles across a wide spectrum of genres, sifting out survivors, sleepers, and a fair proportion of titles that stay on internet must-have lists. Without ever being popular or serving any genre-minority, it stays busy - and in business. Take for example, the Necks, who fit right in to this picture: contemporary, original, critically acclaimed and marching to their own drummer [or beat, if you prefer; the thought is from Henry David Thoreau so hopefully American enough?). “People buy things because they are on the label, not because they’re in fashion” says label owner Chris Cutler, “Our capital has always been our reputation for innovation and quality. As a business plan, that’s worked for us.”

Aside from being the home of cult bands This Heat, Henry Cow, Faust, Art Bears, GroundZero and The Homosexuals - and signature label for guitarist Fred Frith and all-round genius Jon Rose - ReR’s international catalogue includes key works of plunderphonics, soundscape, experimental rock, early electronics, Japanese pop and C20 Art music. From Pere Ubu to Sun Ra by way of the Russian Futurists: it’s a label hard to pigeonhole.

Below you will find some of the ReR catalog, all of which is available in North America through Morphius Records at morphius.com/rermegacorp. 

HENRY COW:

HENRY COW - 40TH ANNIVERSARY HENRY COW BOX SET: THE ROAD VOLUMES 6-10 CD/DVD HENRY COW - LEG END CD HENRY COW - STOCKHOLM, GOTEBORG CD HENRY COW - IN PRAISE OF LEARNING CD HENRY COW - WESTERN CULTURE CD HENRY COW - STUDIO VOLUME 3 CD HENRY COW - LEGEND (VINYL)VINYL HENRY COW - UNREST CD HENRY COW - CONCERTS CD SLAPP HAPPY/HENRY COW - DESPERATE STRAIGHTS CD

ART BEARS:

ART BEARS - HOPES AND FEARS (VINYL)VINYL ART BEARS - HOPES AND FEARS CD ART BEARS - ART BOX (6 CD SET) CD ART BEARS - WINTER SONGS CD ART BEARS - WORLD AS IT IS TODAY CD ART BEARS - REVISITED CD

FAUST:

FAUST - NOBODY KNOWS IF IT EVER HAPPENED DVD FAUST - WUMME YEARS BOX SET CD FAUST - FROM GLORY TO INFINITY CD FAUST - FAUST TAPES CD FAUST - FAUST SO FAR CD FAUST - FAUST TAPES VINYL FAUST - BBC SESSIONS CD FAUST - 71 MINUTES OF CD

SUN RA:

RA, SUN - BEYOND THE PURPLE STAR ZONE: LIVE AT DETROIT JAZZCENTER CD RA, SUN - COSMO SUN CONNECTION CD RA, SUN - NIDHAMU/ DARK MYTH EQUATION CD RA, SUN - ART YARD IN A BOX (7-CD BOX SET) CD RA, SUN - DISCO 3000 (DOUBLE CD) CD RA, SUN - COSMIC EARTH FANTASY CD RA, SUN - MEDIA DREAMS CD RA, SUN - SLEEPING BEAUTY CD RA, SUN - ANTIQUE BLACKS CD RA, SUN - SPACE PROBE CD RA, SUN - WAKE UP ANGELS CD RA, SUN - DISCO3000(SINGLE CD) CD RA, SUN - ON JUPITER CD RA, SUN - HORIZON CD

FRED FRITH:

FRITH, FRED - CHEAP AT HALF THE PRICECD FRITH, FRED - THAT HOUSE WE LIVED INCD FRITH, FRED - HAPPY END PROBLEMCD FRITH, FRED - NOWHERE SIDESHOWTHIN AIRCD FRITH, FRED - STEP ACROSS THEBORDERCD FRITH, FRED - MIDDLE OF THE MOMENTCD FRITH, FRED - PREVIOUS EVENINGCD FRITH, FRED - GUITAR SOLOSCD FRITH, FRED - TECHNOLOGY OF TEARSCD FRITH, FRED - LIVE IN JAPANCD FRITH, FRED - ACCIDENTALCD FRITH, FRED - PRINTSCD FRITH, FRED - IMPURCD FRITH, FRED - IMPUR PT. 2CD FRITH, FRED - GRAVITYCD FRITH, FRED - SPEECHLESSCD FRITH, FRED - ALLIESCD CUTLER, CHRIS/FRED FRITH - LIVE IN MOSCOW, PRAGUE ETCCD CUTLER, CHRIS & FRED FRITH - LIVE IN TRONDHEIM ETCCD CUTLER, CHRIS/FRED FRITH - TWOGENTLEMEN IN VERONACD FRITH, FRED/ JOHN ZORN - ART OF MEMORY 2CD CUTLER, FRITH, DIMUZIO - GOLDEN STATE WHITE/BLACKVINYL CUTLER, FRITH, DIMUZIO - GOLDEN STATE GOLDVINYL

NECKS:

NECKS - THE NECKS BOX CD NECKS - MOSQUITO/SEE THROUGHCD NECKS - HANGING GARDENSCD NECKS - MINDSET (VINYL)VINYL NECKS - MINDSETCD NECKS - AETHERCD NECKS - DRIVE BYCD NECKS - BOYSCD NECKS - CHEMISTCD NECKS - TOWNSVILLECD NECKS - SILVERWATERCD

PERE UBU:

PERE UBU - LONDON TEXAS CD

THIS HEAT:

THIS HEAT - OUT OF COLD STORAGE (6 CDS)CD THIS HEAT - HEALTH AND EFFICIENCYCD THIS HEAT - DECEITCD THIS HEAT - THIS HEATCD

JON ROSE:

ROSE, JON - VIOLIN MUSIC FOR RESTAURANTSCD ROSE, JON - SHOPPING LIVE@VICTOCD ROSE, JON - HYPERSTRING PROJECTCD ROSE, JON - PEOPLE'S MUSICCD ROSE, JON - BRAINWEATHERCD ROSE, JON - PERKSCD ROSE, JON - FENCECD ROSE, JON - ROSINCD

[morphiusrecords]

Brett Netson of Built to Spill to drop album as Brett Netson & Snakes

If you made a Mount Rushmore of 90s bands, Pacific Northwest indie rockers Built to Spill would certainly be on it. The intensity of their guitar-driven rock was part of a movement that many contemporary indie bands have to thank. Archers of Loaf, Pavement, Dismemberment Plan, and Built to Spill’s sister band, Caustic Resin would also all be on the list.

Our longtime friend Brett Netson — of Built to Spill and Caustic Resin (as well as a recent member of metal powerhouse Earth)—is set to drop a new record with his band Snakes later this month called Scavenger Cult. Every 90s, Generation X-er should be lining up to snag a copy of this great release.

The opening track, “Play On” is a hard, 70s-style rock song with ominous vocals and that very distinct Brett Netson sounding guitar, that wobbly screech. Certainly less poppy than Built to Spill, it still has that signature grittiness found on most Built to Spill and Caustic Resin releases.

We’re thrilled Brett came to us to press the album for him, which is on 12” 180g vinyl.  The audio was recorded to analog tape and mastered entirely with analog equipment. Sounds pretty sick. Head over to Brett’s Bandcamp to pre-order the record—but don’t delay because it’s a limited run release (and a recent Australian import version of the record sold out very fast).

You can also grab a digital copy of Brett’s solo album from 2011, Simple Work for the Dead, on iTunes.

Scavenger Cult was #madebymorphius

[morphiusrecords]

Great comedy album of the Late Joan Rivers to be released

This past summer, the world lost a great comedian and entertainment icon in Joan Rivers. Both self-deprecating and intensely critical, Rivers' career spanned over 60 years and included work as a standup comedian, TV actress, TV host, producer and writer. Many knew her as gossipy and abrasive, but she was always funny and on point. She was a true entertainer and her presence at red carpet award shows is certainly missed. 

We are lucky to distribute one of Rivers' very early recordings, being released as The Next to Last Joan Rivers Album on Stand Up! Records. It's the first time the performance has been re-mastered and the first time it's being released on CD. Originally from 1969 and recorded live at The Upstairs Downstairs, the album is great starting point for anyone interested in diving into the epic, career-long catalog of Rivers' work that includes classics like What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most? 

While better known for her TV career as both an actress and a host, Rivers' persona and bravado that we all grew to love after watching her on for years on entertainment TV, came from early albums like The Next to Last Joan Rivers Album. 

Pre-order from any of these participating stores on CD right away, it's limited to 1,000 only and is available as part of Record Store Day on April 18th.  

[morphiusrecords]

In conjunction with RER MEGACORP & ART YARD, MORPHIUS to issue 7-Disc Box Set of legendary musician and philosopher SUN RA

The first time you listen to Sun Ra you might be a little confused. But like most great art, it becomes clearer, over time, just how powerful it is. It’s beyond just music–it’s a very serious otherworldly experience that transcends any medium or genre or art form. Sun Ra was a missionary of cosmic philosophy, and a magician of sound and feeling that will forever be lightyears ahead of his time. Just listen to the very short “Door to the Cosmos,” released later in his career. Its timelessness is immediately apparent on the first hand clap. 

Artyard in a Box, a seven-disc set of classic Sun Ra releases, all originally released on the El Saturn label, comes out on April 7th via ReR Megacorp. The U.S. version of the box set includes the albums, Disco 3000, Sleeping Beauty, On Jupiter, Oblique Parallax, Horizon, Nidhamu/Dark Myth Equation Visitation and The Antique Blacks.

Sun Ra was born in Alabama in 1914 and passed away in 1993. Thanks to guys like Chris Cutler and Peter Dennett and labels like ReR Megacorp & Art Yard, his music lives on in the cosmos.

We’ve had a nearly two decade relationship with ReR Megacorp, a seminal experimental music label based in the UK that has put out hundreds of releases by various mainstays like Fred Frith, Henry Cow, Faust, Art Bears, Pere Ubu, This Heat, The Homosexuals, and many others. We appreciate all the great work ReR and its founder, Chris Cutler, has done over the years for a varied and diverse experimental music and art scene from around the world. This release is just another very important piece off the puzzle.

Pre-order Artyard in a Box from seeofsound.com/rermegacorp. If you have some time to spare, check out seeofsound.com/rermegacorp and introduce (or re-introduce) yourself to the majesty of hundreds of legendary experimental musicians. The artists may not all be household names, but many of them, like Sun Ra, are luminaries in the anthropological history of the world’s music.

- Taylor

photo courtesy of NY Times

[morphiusrecords]

The New Dylans Return with Meta, first album in nearly two decades

In the late 1980s after Americana band, The New Dylans had released a vinyl EP, Michael Stipe of REM gave them a glowing endorsement, calling it his pick of the year in 1987 in Rock Express. Unfortunately even with the heavy buzz of one of rock's most iconic stars and interest from several record labels, The New Dylans broke up. 

They reformed in the early 90s, released two full-length albums, toured the country several times over and then broke up again. Now, 18 years later, The New Dylans have reunited and are on the verge of releasing their third full-length album, Meta, which comes out nationally April 7. Pre-order it on CD right now and we'll ship it to you before the release date.  

The music industry has changed quite a bit since The New Dylans last released an album. While co-founders Jim Reilley and Reese Campbell haven't necessarily been household names over the years, their lives have been deeply rooted in the music industry for decades.  Reilley has lived in Nashville over 16 years, producing albums and writing songs for a publisher. 

The first iteration of The New Dylans featured bassist John Lombardo and drummer Jerry Augustyniak of successful 80s alternative rock band, 10,000 Maniacs who were from Reilley and Campbell's neighboring town, Jamestown NY. The New Dylans tongue-and-cheek name plays off of the overused trope of every folk-rock artist being anointed "The Next Bob Dylan." 

To illustrate the reality for working musicians in Nashville, The Tennessean followed The New Dylans for a year as they made their new album and navigated the the art and business side of being a middle class band in Music City. That process was chronicled in a documentary called Band on the Brink, which you can watch here. 

Maybe Meta is the right kind of genuine, heartfelt Americana rock n' roll that we all need right now. Go buy the CD and be part of an underdog rock story that's nearly 20 years old. 

- TD

Photo by Sam Simpkins of The Tennessean 

Read a long feature on The New Dylans here.

[morphiusrecords]

3-Hour VocalRecording Session for $99 // 4-Hour Production Session for $139

Don't miss your chance to record at Lord Baltimore Recording! The last few weeks have been a lot of fun, with very productive sessions from veteran Baltimore rapper, Mann E. Styles, with Chris Will, old school Bmore hip-hop producer JLaB and hot newcomers Cbeats, DZol, and Parker Nelson.  We have more sessions coming up this week for Hung Jury Records, AsiaStar, as well as with our old friend Roman Kuebler, who’s recorded here before with Jaabs & with The Oranges Band.

The special Tuesday rate is giving us a chance to hear a lot of awesome new talent, and we’re psyched to keep it going.  Choose the schedule you prefer below:

9AM to 12 NOON  |   NOON to 3PM  |  3PM to 6PM  |   6PM to 9PM  |   9PM to 12AM  

To confirm a session or make a payment, email [email protected] or call 410-929-3786. More info at lordbaltimorerecording.com/specials.          

    • Sessions are prepaid. Pay by Paypal or credit card, or drop off cash before 6PM.

   • Specific time slots cannot be held without payment, but we will accommodate same day booking if possible.

   • Does not include mixing or mastering.

   • Limit one 3 hour block per week per customer. Any additional time booked that week will be at our regular rates. (independent artists/labels only)

   • Artists must bring in beats for their session or send a link to their beats in advance.

[morphiusrecords]

Tour Dates Winter/Spring 2015

Paperhaus (get new s/t album here)  

3/5 -Washington, DC @ DC9 w/ Desert Noises, Linear Downfalhttps://www.facebook.com/events/622850904488099/  

3/11-Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light w/ Hudson K, The Enigmatic Foe 

3/13-Birmingham, AL @ Syndicate Lounge w/ Future Primitives, Dustin Sellers, Red Face    https://www.facebook.com/events/1577406045811298/

3/14-New Orleans, LA @ Beatnik w/ Pope, Shark's Teeth

3/15-Lafayette, LA  @ The Feed & Seed w/ Pree, The Cavemen  

3/16-Houston, TX @ Super Happy Fun Land w/ Laser Background, A-Bomb, Dams  

3/21-Austin, TX (SXSW) @ The Liberty (Inflated Records Showcase) 3/22-Denton, TX @ Dan's Silverleaf w/ Foe Destroyer, Mark Lettieri    

3/23-Fayetteville, AR @ JR's Lightbulb Club w/ Comfortable Brother, Pagiins    https://www.facebook.com/events/350725078445775/    

3/25-Cincinnati, OH @ The Comet w/ Comprador  

3/26-Detroit, MI @ UFO Factory w/ Palaces, Double Winter, Duane The Brand New Dog        https://www.facebook.com/events/1570265853212331/

3/27-Erie, PA @ Basement Transmissions w/ Frame and Mantle, The Standby, Teatime For Three, and Jivan        

 3/28-NYC @ Palisades w/ Daniel Bachman, Raccoon Fighter 

----

Flying Eyes (albums available on seeofsound.com)

March 3rd - Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Uniclub https://www.facebook.com/events/394919997352108/ Tickets: http://www.ticketek.com.ar/flying-eyes/uniclub

March 4th - Cordoba, Argentina @ Refugio Guernica

March 6th- Florianópolis, Brazil @ Célula Showcase https://www.facebook.com/events/639788196149484 Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/the-flying-eyes--florianopolis-sc…

March 7th - Rio do Sul, Brazil @ Porão do Duque https://www.facebook.com/gritorockaltovale

March 8th - Petrópolis, Brazil @ Gypsy Bar https://www.facebook.com/events/1425608281065412/?ref=70

March 12th - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Rio Rock Blues https://www.facebook.com/events/840081162718146 Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/the-flying-eyes-eua--anjo-gabriel…

March 13th - Goiânia, Brazil @ Martim Cererê https://www.facebook.com/events/999208016774076 Tickets: https://meubilhete.com/flyingeyes

March 14th – Sâo Paulo, Brazil @ Inferno Club https://www.facebook.com/events/447678752049613 Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/the-flying-eyes-eua--anjo-gabriel…

March 15th - Volta Redonda, Brazil @ Toca do Arigó https://www.facebook.com/events/924082770970422 Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/the-flying-eyes-usa--anjo-gabriel…

----

J Roddy Walston and the Business (NEW SPECIAL EDITION HAIL MEGA BOYS on GREEN VINYL)

3/5 Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre

3/6 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick

3/7 Lansing, MI @ The Loft

3/13 J Roddy Walston & The Business with Moon Taxi, Jessica Hernandez and The Deltasw/ J. Roddy Walston & The...Charlotte, NC 

3/14 Columbia, SC @ St. Pat's in Five Pointsw/ Chris Robinson...

3/19 Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater

3/20 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Jessica Hernandez &...

3/25 Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theater w/ The Weeks

3/26 Chattanooga, TN @ Track 29 w/ The Weeks

3/27 Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall w/ The Weeks

3/28 New Orleans, LA @ Hogs for the Cause w/ Strand of Oaks, The...

4/18 Abingdon, VA | Wolf Hills Brewing CO

4/24 Norfolk, VA @ The Norva w/ The Weeks

5/14 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits

5/15 Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival

5/21 Nashville, TN | Marathon Music Works

5/26 Cleveland, OH | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

5/28 Wilmington, NC | Ziggy's

6/5 New York, NY @ Governors Ball Music Festival

------

Maria Bamford (Maria Bamford's Plan B (Stand Up! Records) available on seeofsound.com) 

3/1 Santa Barbara, CA @ Lobero Theatre GET TICKETS!

4/1 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom  GET TICKETS!

4/2 Minneapolis, MN @ Woman’s Club of Minneapolis GET TICKETS!

4/22-4/25 Austin, TX @ Moontower Comedy Festival GET TICKETS!

5/8 Boston, MA @ The Wilbur Theatre GET TICKETS!

Check out other Stand Up! Records tours

------

Glenn Wool (Get Glenn Wool's Let Your Hands Go on seeofsound.com)

Go here for more

4/18 - 8.30pm, The Glee, Birmingham, UK (0871 472 0400) 4/27 - 9.00pm, The Stand, Newcastle, UK (0844 693 3336) 4/28 - 8.30pm, the Stand, Glasgow, UK (0844 335 8879) 4/30 - 8.30pm, The Stand, Edinburgh, UK (0131 558 7272)

5/1 - 8.00pm, The Slaughter House, Liverpool, UK (0800 177 7575) 5/2 - 8.00pm, The Y Theatre, Leicester, UK (0116 255 7066) 5/4 - 6.15pm, Komedia, Brighton, UK (on sale 5th March) 5/6-5/10 - 9.30pm, Soho Theatre, London, UK (0207 478 0100) 2/27-3/1 - Sydney, Australia 3/4-3/9 - Brisbane, Australia 3/11-3/15 - Adelaide, Australia 3/20-3/22 - Sydney, Australia 3/27-3/29 - Sydney, Australia 4/1-4/3 - Stavanger, Norway 4/4 - Oslo, Norway 4/5 - Bergen, Norway 4/9 - Velp, Holland 4/10 - Amsterdam, Holland 4/11 - Eindhoven, Holland 4/12 - Utrecht, Holland 4/13 - Rotterdam, Holland 4/14 - Enschede, Holland 4/15 - The Hague, Holland 4/16 - The Hague, Holland 4/19 - Walton-on-Thames, UK 4/24-4/26 - London, UK 4/27 - Newcastle, UK 4/28 - Glasgow, UK 4/30 - Edinburgh, UK 5/14 -  Estonia 5/15-5/18 - Helsinki, Finland 5/20 - Geneva, Switzerland 5/21 - Lausanne, Switzerland 5/22 - Basel, Switzerland 5/23 - Zurich, Switzerland

---------

Peelander-Z (Get Peelander-Z Is Fun on seeofsound.com/morphius)

3/17- Valhalla - SXSW - Austin, TX 3/18- HOLE IN THE WALL - SXSW- Austin, TX 3/19- Maggie Mae's -SXSW - Austin, TX 3/21- The Grackle - SXSW- Austin, TX 3/22- Mueller Lake Park -SXSW- Austin, TX 3/24- The Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival (The VOV) - Hot Springs, AR 3/25- Bottletree Cafe - Birmingham, AL 3/26- Athens Slingshot Festival - Athens, GA 3/27- Ashley Street Station - Valdosta, GA 3/28- Jinx Savannah - Savannah, GA 3/29- The Radio Room: WPBR - Greenville, SC 3/31- JJ's Bohemia - Chattanooga, TN 4/01- Exit/In - Nashville, TN 4/02- The New Vintage - Louisville, KY 4/03- Hi-Tone - Memphis, TN 4/04- Thirsty Hippo - Hattiesburg, MS 4/05- One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA 4/06- Fitzgerald's Houston - Houston, TX 4/07- Backstage Lubbock Depot District - Lubbock, TX 4/09- club congress - Tucson, AZ 4/10- Soda Bar - San Diego, CA 4/11- Double Down Saloon - Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV 4/14- DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA 4/16- El Corazon - Seattle, WA 4/17- Neurolux - Boise, ID 4/18- Zebra Cocktail Lounge - Bozeman, MT 4/20- Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT 4/22- Moxi Theater- Greeley, CO 4/23- The Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO 4/24- Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO 4/25- Middle of the Map Fest - Kansas City, MO 4/27- The Waiting Room Lounge - Omaha, NE 4/28- Billy Frogs Bar and Grill - Sioux Falls - Sioux Falls, SD 4/29- The Aquarium - Fargo, ND 5/01- The House Cafe - DeKalb, IL 5/03- Lyric Room Live Music - Green Bay, WI 5/05- The Southgate House Revival - Newport, KY 5/07- The EARL - Atlanta, GA 5/08-The Orpheum - Ybor City, FL 5/09- Collective Con - Jacksonville, FL 5/12- Snug Harbor - Charlotte, NC 5/13- Strange Matter - Richmond, VA 5/14- Ottobar - Baltimore, MD 5/16- Knitting Factory Brooklyn - Brooklyn, NY

More dates will be added soon!!!

[morphiusrecords]

Chunklet founder, Henry Owings, releases The Speaking Canaries cassette

Our old friend Henry Owings, founder of the pop culture magazine, Chunklet​, just released a recording of cult-rock band, The Speaking Canaries called Platter Base Must Be Constructed of Moon Rock on cassette. Owings was digging through old recordings with Don Caballero bassist, Pat Morris when he stumbled across the demo cassette.  The Speaking Canaries (also called Thee Speaking Canaries) was the side project of Don Caballero's drummer, Damon Che. As a big fan of the lesser known band, Owings asked if he could release the recording as a cassette. 

The Speaking Canaries' sound differs quite a bit from the progressive, math rock of Don Cab. Che's love for 70s and 80s hard rock became the driving force behind the Canaries' releases. 

While we at Morphius don't have any affiliation with Don Cab or Speaking Canaries, we do have a love for those deep-cut, cult rock albums like Platter Base Must Be Constructed of Moon Rock and appreciate Owings' sentiment toward them. 

Although we miss seeing new copies of Chunklet in the paper magazine format, we love their commitment to current, critical and hilarious music and cultural critique. While they never released their 20 issues with any sort of consistent schedule, their unabashed and relentless parody of the music industry became a favorite amongst music cynics. 

You can still read Chunklet for a dose of humor or cult music news, like the great Corporate Office prank call to Wendy's, which Chunklet has now released on vinyl or a Speaking Canaries mini-documentary. 

We wish Henry Owings all the best and hope to see him soon in ATL. 

[morphiusrecords]

Buy 5 CD Reggae Set to Celebrate Bob Marley's Birthday

Happy 70th Birthday to Bob Marley

Celebrate the 70th Birthday of immortalized music legend Bob Marley with a bunch of great reggae CDs and a show at The Ottobar in Baltimore.

Get these 5 CDs from reggae legends H.R. of Bad Brains, Andrew Tosh, Winston Brown, Claudius Linton, and Kingman & Jonah. Both Winston Brown’s Keep On Dreamin’ and HR w/ The Scotch Bonnets’ Quest came out on Morphius Records in 2014. Why these 5 albums? Well all of these artists share a connection to Bob Marley & the Wailers. Claudius Linton (AKA Kingman) and Bob were friends back in Jamaica, and Kingman & Jonah recorded in Bob’s old studio, Tuff Gong. Andrew Tosh’s dad, Peter, was a longtime bandmate of Bob’s. Winston Brown grew up with Rita Marley and is Ziggy Marley’s godfather. H.R.’s band, Bad Brains, followed in the footsteps of Marley’s worldwide imprint on reggae, having a similar impact breaking the color barrier in punk rock. Before working with Scotch Bonnets, H.R. also played for years with Wailers guitarist Al Anderson. For a limited time, you can get all five of these great CDs together for just $29.95.

This is a one-time-only opportunity and the special extends from now until March 6th.

In addition to this promotion, you can celebrate Marley’s Birthday this Friday, February 6th at The Ottobar to see The Scotch Bonnets, Unity Reggae, Striker’s Posse and other reggae artists pay tribute to one of music’s all-time greats.

Also, if you place a manufacturing order for vinyl or CDs (more than 500+ units) between now and March 6th, we will send you the 5-disc box for FREE. Use the promo code MORPHMARLEY on your order form to get the promotion. (This promotion cannot be combined with other manufacturing promotions)

Get a CD or Vinyl quote from morphius.com/manufacturing or contact David Andler at the email or phone number below.

Thanks,

Morphius Records, Inc. [email protected] 410-929-3786

[morphiusrecords]

First Listen: Paperhaus, 'Paperhaus'

DC based band, Paperhaus, who we've written quite a bit about recently, have their brand new, self-titled album streaming over at NPR's legendary "First Listen." I'd say you're having a pretty good year if Bob Boilen gives you a nod. Paperhaus is headlining 9:30 Club this Saturday, February 7th. Looks like 2015 is going to be their year. 

You can listen to Paperhaus, which was #madebymorphius, over at NPR or pre-order the CD from seeofsound.com/morphius.

[morphiusrecords]

THROWIN’ BACK to 2006 when Don’t Need You: The Herstory of Riot Grrrl came out on DVD, chronicling the 90s riot grrrl revolution in indie rock. The film features interviews with iconic punk musicians like Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, Allison Wolfe of Bratmobile, and Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi.

Riot Grrrl is an underground feminist punk movement that started in the early 90s in DC and the Pacific Northwest, and Don’t Need You gives you an inside glimpse of those early years from the women that pioneered the movement.

So as you spin the new Sleater-Kinney album, which is getting rave reviews from critics, or maybe even catch them live (their performance on Late Night with David Letterman this week was nothing short of amazing) grab a copy of Don’t Need You from seeofsound.com/morphius — it’s a timeless film and makes a great companion piece.

Don’t Need You: The Herstory of Riot Grrrl was #madebymorphius

#TBT

[morphiusrecords]

DC rock band, Deleted Scenes, officially calls it quits

Our longtime friends, the DC-based rock band, Deleted Scenes have announced via their Facebook page that they are officially calling it quits after nearly ten years as a band.

Morphius manufactured four previous Deleted Scenes releases including Birdseed Shirt and the vinyl 12” for their BedBedBed EP & Young People’s Church of the Air (2013).

While we’re sad to hear they are parting ways, we are thankful for the ten years of awesome music they shared with their fans and are ecstatic that we got a chance to work with them on so much of it.

If you are feeling nostalgic, you can snag a copy of their debut album, Birdseed Shirt or their acclaimed 2nd full-length, Young People’s Church of the Air from seeofsound.com/morphius, or digitally from iTunes. You should also check out their 2014 release, Lithium Burn.

While you’re at it why don’t you check out one of Matt Dowling’s new projects like The Effects or Paperhaus, which he just joined this year.  Or order a copy of Morphius XX, which features a radically different remix of one of their coolest songs, “English as a Second Language,” which was done right here at Lord Baltimore Recording Studio.

photo courtesy of Washington City Paper

[morphiusrecords]

Today we’re THROWIN’ BACK to February, 2013 when our good friends, Sockets Records, closed their doors. It was a sad day for the DC music scene, but instead of harping on the negative, let’s think about all the great music we still get to enjoy because of Sean Peoples vision and Sockets Records. 

We were lucky enough to work with Sockets and press some of their seminal releases by bands like Deleted Scenes, Hume, Buildings, and Imperial China. 

Deleted Scenes have also recently called it quits and we’re thankful for all the great music they have shared with us. 

We’ve included some of our favorite tunes for you to enjoy from Sockets’ bands below, including Deleted Scenes’ beautiful, acoustic version of “Bedbedbedbedbed.”

Sockets founder, Sean Peoples still lives in the DC area and is a Producer and Program Associate with the Woodrow Wilson Center where he produces the Environmental Change and Security Program blog. 

*photo of Deleted Scenes bassist, Matt Dowling is courtesy of Washington City Paper

[morphiusrecords]

DC band, Paperhaus, will celebrate the release of anticipated debut album at 9:30 Club

A few years ago a group of DC-based musicians opened a DIY venue and community living space in The District called The Paperhaus. Those same musicians also formed a band of the same name and on the eve of the release of their debut album will play a show at 9:30 Club with Loud Boyz, Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists, and DJ Ayescold.

Starting as a duo nearly five years ago, Alex Tebeleff and Eduardo Rivera have been staples in the DC music scene for a while now and Paperhaus has become one of the most popular local bands. Earlier this year, they added two new members and have been touring nation-wide in anticipation of their debut, full length album. 

We highly recommend making the short drive down to DC to see them play the 9:30 Club, certainly one of the best venues in the country, but if you can't they are playing a show at Metro Gallery this month with local favorite, Ed Schrader and legendary guitar virtuoso, Yonatan Gat (formerly of Monotonix).  

Also, take a trip down to DC to go to a show at The Paperhaus venue. Since its inception, there have been several other DIY spaces that have popped up in DC, partially due to the creative community that Paperhaus, both the band and the venue, have cultivated. 

The new Paperhaus album includes themes of self expression, awareness of being, and community and strikes a nice balance between catchy indiepop, 60s psych rock and 80s punk. 

Below you can listen to the single, "So Slow" which premiered on Alt Citizen on Monday morning. 

Paperhaus was #madebymorphius and you can pre-order a copy of it from seeofsound.com/morphius or on iTunes. 

TOUR DATES:

1/21-Brooklyn NY @ Silent Barn w/ Yonatan Gat, Dances, Huffer (1.21 Gigawatts Presents) https://www.facebook.com/events/385385771623262/?ref=notif&notif_t=plan_user_joined 1/22-Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery w/ Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Yonatan Gat, Post Pink  https://www.facebook.com/events/861183627266389/ 2/7-DC ALBUM RELEASE SHOW @ 9:30 Club w/ Loud Boyz, Baby Bry & The Apologists, hosted by Church Night (DCMD 3rd Anniversary Party) {Benefit for DC Library Punk Archives!) https://www.facebook.com/events/868337413197171/ 2/11-Blacksburg, VA @ House Show  2/12-Raleigh, NC @ Tir Na Nog w/ Ghostt Bllonde 2/13-Athens, GA @ Go Bar w/ Semicircle 2/14-Atlanta, GA @ TBA 2/15-Murfeesboro @ House Show 2/17-Nashville, TN @ TBA w/ Tesla Rosa 2/18-Rockford, IL @ Hipster House 2/19-Chicago, IL @ Emporium w/ Rabble Rabble 2/20-Bloomington, IN @ Big House w/ Good English, Sunspots, Patchwork  2/21-Pittsburgh, PA @ The Mr. Roboto Project w/ Anello, New Contender https://www.facebook.com/events/748455615235103/ 3/11-Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light w/ Hudson K, The Enigmatic Foe  3/12-Atlanta, GA @ TBA  3/13-Birmingham, AL @ Syndicate Lounge w/ Future Primitives  3/14-New Orleans, LA @ Beatnik w/ Pope, Shark's Teeth 3/15-Lafayette, LA @ The Feed & Seed w/ Pree, The Cavemen  3/16-Houston, TX @ Super Happy Fun Land w/ Laser Background, A-Bomb, Dams  3/17-3/21 SXSW  3/22-Denton, TX w/ Foe Destroyer, Mark Lettieri 3/23-Fayetteville, AK @ JR's Lightbulb Club w/ Comfortable Brother, Pagiins  3/24-St. Louis, MO @ TBA  3/26-Detroit, MI @ UFO Factory w/ Palaces  3/27-Erie, PA @ Basement Transmissions 

[morphiusrecords]

American Music Club's 'Everclear' gets a re-press

In 1991, the San Francisco slowcore band, American Music Club, released the critically acclaimed album, Everclear (Alias Records). The dark and somber album is considered one of best of Alias Records, who has also put out the likes of Yo La Tengo, Archers of Loaf and Knapsack. 

Out of print for a brief period of time, Everclear is available once again on CD. It's available to purchase through seeofsound.com/morphius

The album is a well-produced, cohesive masterpiece that takes their  melancholy tunes and ties them together with various guitar styles and tempos, making the album a more upbeat release than much of their later work. 

Maybe you can make Everclear a holiday gift for someone special.

Here's a video of lead singer and guitarist, Mark Eitzel performing the Everclear track, "Why Won't You Stay." 

[morphiusrecords]

THROWIN’ BACK to April 2012, when we pressed this stellar album, The Electronic Anthology Project of Dinosaur Jr., which was a collaboration between Brett Nelson of Built to Spill and J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. The album dropped on Record Store Day that year. The color purple (J Mascis’ favorite) was the premise for the album’s classically simple, vibrant design—purple jacket & center label, on purple virgin vinyl. 

A new exclusive re-mix of Dinosaur Jr.'s classic track, “Sludgefeast,” is also featuredon the vinyl and CD of our upcoming release Morphius XX: Twenty Years of Breaking Records, which drops this month.  The release celebrates the last 20 years of Morphius and all the great bands we’ve had the pleasure of working with with exclusive material by more than 25 artists. 

The Electronic Anthology Project of Dinosaur Jr. was #madebymorphius

[morphiusrecords]

We're happy to announce that Quest, the collaboration between HR (of Bad Brains) and The Scotch Bonnets, is out today via Morphius Records. HR has known the Bonnets for a while now, but this record was born out of a recording session at Lord Baltimore Recording for the Morphius XX album last winter. 

Bad Brains, who many consider one of the most influential bands to ever come out of the Nation’s Capital, brought a heavy blend of reggae, punk and hardcore throughout the 1980s. HR has since recorded albums both solo and with his band, Human Rights. 

The Bonnets are a killer steady rockin' reggae crew from DC/Baltimore that have opened for The English Beat, The Pietasters, The Slackers, The Toasters, Bad Manners, and more. 

You can get a copy of Quest from seeofsound.com/morphius or download it digitally from iTunes.

Don't forget to secure your copy of Morphius XX: Celebrating 20 Years of Breaking Records from morphius.com/xx. 

Quest was #madebymorphius 

Follow our Facebook and Twitter for more news, updates, info and special promotions.