Codeine: Classic or Dud?

Box set now available for pre-order from Numero. First 500 copies have an extra 7'' single, not sure if they're still available... http://www.numerogroup.com/catalog_detail.php?uid=01354

Is there going to be an option for just the LPs or just the CDs?

Yeah, not really sure what the point is of CDs that repeat the same material as the double LPs. A download code would have been cheaper and more practical. This seems unnecessary. Plus, the only one I really love is Frigid Stars and my copy of that has held up just fine. Will probably pass on this.

I believe not - I think it will be all or nothing, both with the box set and separate reissues, which I think are scheduled too.

Tour dates!

I'll be at the London Mogwai-curated ATP at Alexandra Palace, in case anyone else is heading to that...

I believe not - I think it will be all or nothing, both with the box set and separate reissues, which I think are scheduled too.

Stupid, stupid move. How does it benefit anyone to force consumer to buy the set with two different formats with the same material? This makes the set more expensive, in a completely needless way. You'd think you'd end up selling more copies by offering a choice. They've certainly lost a sale to me.

yeah this is bizarre

Although saying that, CDs are so cheap to produce I doubt having a download code instead would have led to any appreciable reduction in the price. You can think of it as they're chucking in the CDs for free if you like.

Anyone catch their first reunion show in Seattle last week? Nothing's surfaced on youtube as of now.

I would have gone to this had it not been the same night as Radiohead.

still no show reports? seeing them tonight, am very excited

here they are last week at ATP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kq4OWX1_wk

I wasn't able to make it to ATP, very sadly.

My friend, who knew how much I was wanting to see them, sent me a text just after their set saying simply...

"Oh, krakow!"

Upon prodding, he was decidedly enthusiastic.

Well, that was really great. No major surprises, just that endless slow unfurling. They encored with "Broken Hearted Wine" which was new to me (it's not on the LPs) but a definite classic. Had a quick word with them afterwards and they confirmed this reunion is only to promote the box set, there are no plans for new material. Which may be just as well tbh.

I haven't listened to Codeine in ... since Frigid Stars came out. I was embarrassed to own it, it was uncool. Now that I am no longer a heroin abuser I can enjoy it.

new interview:

http://www.kickingagainstthepricks.org/features-interviews-codeine-2012

"To be one mile high
Then I would kill you all"

Chilling. This band just sounds so fucking lonely.. Love'em though.

A band I can always go back to and find something new. Really love them.

Though I wasn't "there" at the time, so I'm sure that lack of baggage contributes to their longevity with me.

No one I know but my brother and myself ever listens to this band. Which is a shame.

Most perfect, self-contained discography ever?

I got White Birch maybe as long as 8 years ago and never got anything else. I LOVE "Loss Leader", one of the ultimate slow sad 90s songs.

"Loss Leader" never fails.

Need to get more of this band.

Go for the Numero box set, it has everything. you won't regret it.

"Broken Hearted Wine" still the one that never fails for me

I bought the Numero box set a few months ago, it's a thing of beauty but I've not been in the headspace to delve in since.

Unreleased album from 1992 on its way:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfE-AU7pJOL/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

O_O

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read this book called "Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping," by Paco Underhill, and early on he mentions a detail-oriented assistant whose job is basically to stand around supermarkets and observe how various people shop. Then he drops a mention that this person used to be in a '90s band called Codeine. (!) From an interview with Underhill I found:

What kinds of habits—and what kinds of people—make for good observation?

Over the last 34 years I sent out crews of trackers all over the world. When I’m in an environment observing, I have to be very careful after doing it for an hour—I haven’t seen what I need to see. It’s often the second or third day when you really see and understand. So a lot of it is a Zen-like state of patience.

One man did 500 missions for me. He had a short career as a guitar player in a prominent early 90s band called Codeine. It had its own distinct beat. He became a kindergarten teacher. I found him doing substitute teaching and he was so patient and so observant and so rhythmic, with a slow steady beat, and he was so empathetic.

I assume it's John Engle, then:

John has been doing fieldwork for my company, Envirosell, for more than ten years, in between working as a kindergarten teacher. Trained to monitor five-year-olds, does he have patience? Oh, yeah. He also just
completed his two-hundredth fieldwork assignment. He’s of medium height, with brown hair, a spare build, crinkles in the corners of his eyes and big broad feet. He has no trouble standing all day.

thanks josh, i'm glad he's found his niche

there's a bit of background on the forthcoming album here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfPiTihuGKE/

Seems to be mostly early versions of songs that were later reworked as their final album The White Birch:

https://numerogroup.com/products/dessau

I love that album and I think it's probably unimprovable upon but we shall see

i make it 4 songs that later appeared on The White Birch, 2 songs that were on Barely Real, plus 2 others (I Wonder, Something New) that i think were probably on that numero box

I loved Frigid Stars when it came out, it was an escape from stupid bombast and auteurism.

Then I threw it away, embarrassed about my slowcore period. I think I paid too much attention to other people's opinions.

Dug it out and enjoyed it, now I'm revisiting this 90's tendency.

These have reformed for a few east coast dates in April with further dates likely in the fall. Good to see them come out of hiding again, the 2012 show I saw was epic.

https://www.codeine.nyc/

They played that Numero group event in Los Angeles already I think. Playing DC with Barbara Manning opening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRqkmHHFqUs