|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2LP
|
|
DOSER 026LP
|
Composer, improviser, and Buchla Music Easel master Charles Cohen returns to Morphine with a suite of material recorded in 2014. In keeping with the timbre spectrum of his semi-modular system, Brother I Prove You Wrong is built around pointillist analog tones -- Cohen's cosmic "beeps and boops" -- that swarm and scatter in mesmeric patterns across four sides. Moving through surrealistic textural overlays and industrial miasma, the album's nine tracks reveal a more introspective and personal side of the artist, following a retrospective LP trilogy released via Morphine in 2013 (The Middle Distance (DOSER 019LP), Group Motion (DOSER 020LP), Music for Dance and Theater (DOSER 021LP)). Those assembled works, dating back to the late '70s, quickly became essential listening and brought Cohen -- at the time largely unknown outside Philadelphia's experimental circuit -- to critical renown. Brother I Prove You Wrong was recorded in Berlin in September 2014 using the Buchla Music Easel, with production help and support from Rabih Beaini. Mastered by Neel and curated and designed by Tank Boys; cover art by Nathalie du Pasquier.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2CD
|
|
DOSER 024CD
|
Double CD compilation of those enchanting Charles Cohen vinyl releases + two unreleased recordings. Packaged in a rigid double CD box with booklet. Philadelphia's Charles Cohen, free-jazz improviser and synth composer, has managed to remain almost unknown outside of his local improv scene for decades. This retrospective of his early works, all recorded between 1976-1989, testify to the understated genius of his work. Fleeting between polyrhythmic cosmic patterns, gravity-tarred bleeps and noise, outer-worldly melodies, all executed with unfathomable astuteness and grace, this collection showcases the breadth of this idiosyncratic electronic musician. One of the few people to master the rare Buchla Music Easel, his work since the 1970s has focused almost exclusively on this instrument. With his first solo European tour hypnotizing audiences in early 2014, his work is finally reaching a wider audience, enchanted by his mesmerizing yet deeply focused approach. His roaming, raw synths, rhythmic intensity and immersive drones have resonated with uncanny familiarity for a younger generation of electronic experimentalists. This double CD release combines all three LPs released on Morphosis' Morphine Records in 2013, excavated from Cohen's archives; "The Middle Distance" featuring his early works from the Philadelphia's "No Man's Land" art installment, the University Of Texas in El Paso and The Painted Bride Art Center performances as well as "Dance of the Spiritcatchers," originally issued in 1980 on Zero Records; "Group Motion," a live recording from a dance theater piece in Philadelphia of the same name and "Generator," a live recording from Generator Sound Art Gallery in NYC (featuring the Music Easel and the even rarer Buchla 700 series, apparently the only two known recordings of this instrument ever formally released); and Music for Dance and Theater, a further collection containing some of Cohen's collaborations and performances in theater pieces and art installations by Jeff Cain and Tonio Guerra, amongst others. This selection includes two previously-unreleased tracks "Conundrums" and "Slow Blue and Horizontal." Each track has Cohen's immediately captivating hallmark, equal parts playful and mysterious. A stunning retrospective, unearthing a wealth of truly beautiful material.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
DOSER 020LP
|
Repressed. Morphine Records continues to unearth recordings from Philadelphia's synth pioneer, Charles Cohen. Two beautiful drone/ambient/jazz pieces on this one (recorded live in 1989), exposing the sonic genius and dexterity of Cohen alongside the astounding possibilities of that highly-desirable synthesizer of his. Group Motion is a dance theater in Philadelphia founded by Manfred Fischbeck with whom Cohen collaborated and performed. The "Group Motion Performance" is a live recording with the dance company made on the Buchla Music Easel and the Buchla 700 series; the latter, one of the rarest synthesizers on earth. "Generator" was performed and recorded at the Generator Sound Art Gallery, NYC, with the same instrument set-up. Apparently, these are the only known recordings using the Buchla 700 synthesizer to be formally released, making the Group Motion album the only living proof of this incredible-sounding machine. Issued in three parts, this vinyl series will culminate in a full CD release.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
DOSER 021LP
|
Final part in the Charles Cohen trilogy on Morphine Records. Featuring various works made for dance and theater productions between 1976 and 1988. Eleven tracks in total -- lovingly spread over a double LP and featuring some of the most beautiful material of the series. While in the process of recording and optimizing the old reel tapes for the initial track list, Cohen discovered a master tape that was originally prepared for an extremely limited cassette release on the Generations Unlimited imprint in NYC. This collection, preserved in the original order of its initial release, contains some of Cohen's collaborations and performances in theater pieces and art installations by Jeff Cain, Tonio Guerra, Group Motion, and more. A 2LP document, Music for Dance and Theater shows Cohen's extremely sensitive and creative integration of sound into these theatrical performances and visual art installations. Issued in three parts, this vinyl series will culminate in a full CD release.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
DOSER 019LP
|
Morphosis' Morphine Records boldly steps into the archives of one of Philadelphia's best-kept underground secrets: synth composer, Charles Cohen. This excellent release beholds seven key tracks (recorded between 1979-1988) that go into uncharted polyrhythmic/ambient/cosmic territory. The label says "First chapter in the trilogy of Charles Cohen retrospective works, featuring some of his early works from the Philadelphia's 'No Man's Land' art installment, the 'University Of Texas in El Paso,' and 'The Painted Bride' art center performances. This release also features the track 'Dance of the Spiritcatchers,' which previously appeared on the Music from No Man's Land EP by Ghostwriters, a split record with Jeff Cain, originally issued in 1980 on Zero Records." Issued in three parts, this vinyl series will culminate in a full CD release.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
REDOSE 002EP
|
Morphine label boss, Morphosis, presents the music of electronic composer, Charles Cohen, kicking things off with these two deadly interpretations of "Dance of the Spirit Catchers." Masterful and essential!
|