Codeine

Codeine is an American indie rock/slowcore band formed in 1989 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, did not evolve much during their career.

Codeine released their first album «Frigid Stars» on the German label Glitterhouse in 1990. The album was released on Sub Pop the following year.

Their second release, the short album «Barely Real» was issued in 1992. Immerwahr rejected several of the songs after the recording session. Some of these songs would be re-recorded for the final album. The song «W.» is a solo performance on piano by David Grubbs (of Bastro, Squirrel Bait and Gastr del Sol). A somewhat different full-band version of the song appears on Codeine’s next album, now titled «Wird».

Brokaw left the band after the release of «Barely Real» to play full-time with his other band Come, and was replaced by drummer Doug Scharin.

Codeine’s next and final release was the full-length album «The White Birch», released in 1994. David Grubbs also participated on the album. After this release the band broke up. Doug Scharin continued in Rex and June of 44, and later as the band leader of HiM. Following the demise of Come, original drummer Chris Brokaw became a solo artist and itinerant guitarist, most recently (2007) with Thurston Moore Sonic Youth.