Morphine recordings emerge from the Cocoon
Twenty-five years after the unforgettable voice of Mark Sandman left the stage, the ghost of Morphine is finally ready to whisper one more song. Cocoon”>Cocoon, an eight-track collection drawn from the Boston trio’s long-shelved late-nineteen nineties recordings, is bringing Sandman’s inimitable voice and signature two-string bass back into the present day. This new release offers an unexpected, intimate chapter for the band, due in December from Partisan.
When Morphine first emerged from the alternative underground, they carved out a unique space defined by what they called “low rock.” This sound was built on the hypnotic interplay of Sandman’s slide bass, Dana Colley’s soulful saxophone melodies, and stripped-down drumming, creating a smoky, jazz- and blues-inflected atmosphere. It was a sound that felt utterly singular, distinct from the grunge landscape of the era.
The journey to Cocoon”>Cocoon is a testament to the enduring power of forgotten music. The sessions that would eventually form this compilation took place in late 1998 and 1999, conducted at Sandman’s home studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During this time, Sandman and producers Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade explored a richer sonic palette, incorporating piano and acoustic guitars alongside the band’s familiar instrumentation. However, external pressures and internal friction led Sandman to shelve the material, choosing instead to focus on the tracks that would eventually become The Night”>, the band’s posthumous final album.
For more than two decades, those original tapes lay untouched. Only in 2023 did a collective effort, spearheaded by Sandman’s life partner and Morphine estate manager Sabine Hrechdakian, work with Kolderie to digitize the recordings for archival purposes. When these tracks were finally heard, they revealed something far more substantial than mere demos; they were a treasure waiting to be rediscovered.
Listening back, those sessions reveal incredible details—Sandman laughing during takes, the delicate movement of fingers across acoustic guitars, and the subtle presence of Slade’s voice drifting through the studio. These are the elements that give Cocoon”>Cocoon its profound sense of intimacy. The resulting album masterfully blends the rawness of the original recordings with new artistic flourishes.
The narrative of the album unfolds through evocative tracks. The title song, “Cocoon,” captures the record’s otherworldly mood, with Sandman singing about a “plush-lined, custom designed” cocoon, reflecting a sense of safe return after the road, intertwined with the album’s recurring fascination with journeys and space. Other songs offer varied perspectives, ranging from the playful dance of “Wig” to the vulnerable reflection in “Pretty Face.”
The aesthetic of Cocoon”>Cocoon is equally compelling. The cover art deepens the feeling of intimacy, featuring a photograph Sandman took of Hrechdakian’s reflection in a train window traveling to Antwerp in 1998, paired with a mirrored image of Sandman photographing himself at home. These visual details enhance the emotional weight of the music, turning a collection of old tapes into a deeply personal artifact.
The process of bringing Cocoon”>Cocoon back to life involved more than just digitization. With the assistance of Kolderie, the band revisited the material, even recording new saxophone parts. This decision allowed the original tapes to be viewed not as relics, but as a foundation for a vibrant, contemporary artistic statement.
The posthumous release of Cocoon”>Cocoon is more than a reissue; it is an act of artistic reclamation. It resurrects the unique sound of Morphine, honors the legacy of Mark Sandman, and demonstrates how the most cherished sounds of the past can transform into something entirely new and deeply resonant for the present.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
