Codeine was an American indie rock band formed in 1989 in New York City. They released two full-length albums—Frigid Stars LPin 1990 and The White Birch in 1994. The band broke up in 1994 shortly after the release of The White Birch, but reunited to play a handful of shows in 2012. Due to the band's slow and depressing musical style, they are credited as a pioneering act of what is known as "slowcore" or "sadcore".
Codeine was formed by members Stephen Immerwahr (vocal, bass), Chris Brokaw (drums), and John Engle (guitar). Codeine pioneered the slowcore and sadcore subgenres of indie rock, but with a more experimental attitude than other bands in the genre, such as Low, Idaho and Red House Painters. The band's original tone, marked by slow tempos, Immerwahr's nasal vocals, and Engle's ringing Telecaster, stayed consistent during their career.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first played Codeine in 1990 when he played their track, 'Castle', from the compilation album, Endangered Species. He would continue play their material until 1994 when the group split up. The band also did two sessions for his show in 1992 and 1994 where they performed four songs each.
Sessions[]
Codeine - Peel Session 1992
1. Recorded: 1992-12-22. First Broadcast: 26 February 1993. Repeated: 29 May 1993
- Jr / Tom / Smoking Room / Broken Hearted Wine
2. Recorded: 1994-04-27. First Broadcast: 03 June 1994
- Median / Sure Looks That Way / Sea / Loss Leader
Other Shows Played[]
- 1990
- 24 November 1990: Castle (v/a 6 x 7" Box Set - Endangered Species) Glitterhouse
- 08 December 1990: Castle (v/a 6 x 7" Boxset - Endangered Species) Glitterhouse
- 1991
- 23 March 1991: Cave In (album - Frigid Stars) Glitterhouse/Sub Pop
- 23 March 1991 (BFBS): 'Pickup Song (LP-Frigid Stars)' (Glitterhouse)
- 06 April 1991 (BFBS): 'Gravel Bed (LP-Frigid Stars LP)' (Glitterhouse/Sub Pop)
- 07 April 1991: D (album - Frigid Stars LP) Glitterhouse / Sub Pop
- 18 April 1991 (Radio Mafia): 'Pick Up Song (LP - Frigid Stars)' Glitterhouse
- 20 April 1991 (BFBS): 'Cave-In (LP-Frigid Stars)' (Glitterhouse/Sub Pop)
- 26 May 1991: 'Old Things (LP - Frigid Stars)' Glitterhouse
- 28 June 1991 (BFBS): Cave-In (LP - Frigid Stars) Glitterhouse
- Peel 003 (Radio Bremen): Pickup Song (LP - Frigid Stars) Glitterhouse
- 1992
- 25 July 1992: Realize (7 inch) Sub Pop
- 03 August 1992 (BFBS): Realize (7") Sub Pop
- 15 August 1992: Realize (7") Sub Pop
- 14 November 1992: Hard To Find (12" - Barely Real) Sub Pop
- 15 November 1992 (BFBS): Hard To Find (EP - Barely Real) Sub Pop
- 20 November 1992: Hard To Find (Various Artists 7 inch – Sassy) Sub Pop
- 27 November 1992: Promise Of Love (12" EP - Barely Real) Sub Pop
- 29 November 1992 (BFBS): Realize (EP - Barely Real) Sub Pop
- 06 December 1992 (BFBS): Hard To Find (EP - Barely Real) Sub Pop
- 20 November 1993 (BFBS): Tom (7") Sub Pop
- 26 November 1993: Tom (7") Sub Pop
- 03 December 1993 (BFBS): Tom (7" Single) Sub Pop
- 1994
- 04 February 1994: Loss Leader (CD - The White Birch) Sub Pop
- 12 February 1994 (BFBS): Loss Leader (album - LP 3 (Still Untitled)) Sub Pop
- 11 March 1994: ‘Washed Up (CD - The White Birch)’ (Sub Pop Records)
- 21 May 1994: 'Loss Leader (LP - The White Birch )’ Sub Pop
- 11 June 1994 (BFBS): Loss Leader (album - The White Birch) Sub Pop