Codeine
The White Birch

Codeine is a band formed in 1989 in New York, with a lineup featuring Stephen Immerwahr on vocals and bass, Chris Brokaw on drums, and John Engle on guitar.

The first LP called Frigid Stars (1990) is still considered one of the pillars of Slowcore. Slow rhythms create a melancholic atmosphere. Minimal yet furious, they "explode" literally in a whirlwind of emotions, with guitars at maximum volume. (a bit like what happens in Post-Rock)
Inevitably, Post-Rock is much more traceable in this record: The White Birch. Released a full four years after the first installment, it now features David Grubbs on the second guitar and Doug Scharin on drums.
I say much more traceable because by '94 albums like Spiderland (1991), although not having achieved major commercial success, already inspired with their music. Thus, The White Birch sounds, exclusively on the level of arrangements, very similar to contemporaries Slint, and in this case to good old Spiderland.

But it would be useless to talk about genres now, especially such an ambiguous genre as Post-Rock, because the great merit that must be attributed to this band is their ability to create a unique, original, and inimitable atmosphere even today, and therefore, in my opinion, can only be cataloged under the name "Codeine".


The differences with the first record, Frigid Stars, are remarkable. The tracks are more sophisticated, the sounds now meticulously detailed.
The album is a true dreamlike journey into the largest snowy expanses. The sound is extremely delicate and nostalgic.
The entanglement is actually relatively simple: slow and muffled percussion, a noisy yet warm-sounding bass, and domineering guitars that constitute the classic "wall of sound" in full 90s style.

A particular record, without a doubt, that should not be listened to reluctantly (I don't want to open up a whole debate here, I'll just say I'm extremely convinced that to appreciate something so melancholic and sad, one doesn't necessarily have to be in these states of mind).

Personally, it is one of the most beautiful experiences I've carried with me for some years now, and I would recommend it to anyone to listen to.
The White Birch offers indeed over forty minutes of pure meditation where the listener has nothing to do but let themselves be lulled and warmed by evocative music, which carries with it a great load of emotions, images, and sensations.

Finally, a great note of appreciation for, in my opinion, the magnificent cover.