EXCLUSIVE!!
BANG! BANG!
Title: Decked Out
Format: CD
Label: Morphius
Price: 7.49 USD Store / 6.99 USD Distro

Decked Out, Bang! Bang!'s first full-length release on Morphius Records, marks a mature departure from 2005's more playful EP effort, Electric Sex, proving that less is more when your subject matter is highly sexualized. Where Electric Sex was boisterous, Decked Out is sultry and complex. Swaggering guitar and bass are punctuated with the dueling male/female vocal narratives of Jack Flash and Gretta Fine. Pouting and moody at times, Decked Out's cohesive narrative echoes the obsessive and frustrated sides of desire and sexuality, while maintaining the pop hooks that make Bang! Bang! so addictive, which started with their kitschy but memorable Do You Like It?, recorded at the end of 2003. Highlights of the album include the fist-pumping dance-floor anthem, "Falling Falling," the stylish and brooding "Creepwalking," as well as a cheeky genderreversal cover of the Gun Club's masterpiece, "Sex Beat", with Fine contributing vocals reminiscent of Debbie Harry's singing on Blondie‘s "In The Flesh". Well-crafted instrumentation and universal lyrical elements call to mind influences like The Rezillos, B52s, and Talking Heads and more modern acts like The Epoxies, Lost Sounds, The Raveonettes. and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Bang! Bang! performed more than 120 times in 2005, including shows in more than 60 U.S. cities, which they plan to top in 2006. They kick off a 45-date pre-release tour for the new album April 21st, embark on a second leg of their U.S. tour during the month of May, with a European tour beginning in September.

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EXCLUSIVE!!
THE DEATH SET
Title: To
Format: CD
Label: RabbitFoot /Morphius
Price: 6.49 USD

- The Death Set's unique, infectiously catchy sound is heavily reliant on drum machines, laptops, intelligently exploited samples from television and hip-hop, and simple guitar riffs and keyboard parts that carom off of each other like pinballs. But the band's real strength stems from their layered vocal stylings — Beau Velasco's throaty wail supports and augments Johnny Siera's Buzzcockian shrieks, creating a completely new voice that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Every so often, the whole operation collapses into a gut-wrenching, wordless wail that seems set to become the duo's trademark. (9 out of 10) - Beatbots.com

To, the tangible souvenir of the Death Set's globetrotting birth, is a breathless 13-minute punk romp, equal parts eardrum-grinding abrasion, lo-fi drum-machine beats, and wheedling guitar lines that bounce along like happy puppies. Standout track "Negative Thinking" is a fist-pumping anthem about the dangers of getting down on yourself, with the unforgettable chorus, "In hindsight, I don't want to be like the people I've liked." The Death Set sound is undeniably punk. But there's a tongue-in-cheek cheerfulness to the pair's sneering dual lead vocals and an underlying message of defiant self-reliance, particularly on the EP's closer, "Around the World," where they shout, "We go around the world and we do what must be done/ It's a top-secret mission and our enemies are wishin' that they had a bigger gun." - Baltimore City Paper

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EXCLUSIVE!!
CLAYWAY
Title: Still Movin' Independently: The Takeover
Format: DVD + CD
Label: Clayway Records / Morphius Urban
Price: 9.99 USD Store / 8.99 USD Distro

Baltimore's favorite MC now known as Little Clayway was born Roger Clay. He grew up on the mean streets of B-more and began rhyming in 1997. Instilled with talent that got him noticed at an early age, Clay was inspired by hip hop pioneers such as RUN DMC, LL COOL J, and RAKIM. In 2000, just as his first tracks were hitting the airwaves, he formed Clayway Records. Clay has been increasing his fan base ever since, with hit tracks featuring major artists such as WU TANG's Cappadonna, DRU HILL's Sisqo, and nationally acclaimed club producer ROD LEE. Until recently, Clay was Baltimore's best-kept secret. As witnessed by the thousands of fans who have seen him opening for such acts as FAT JOE, T.I., JUVENILE, YOUNG BUCK, MR. CHEEKS, and JA RULE, it's hard to deny that the secret is out. But the guy does a lot more than just flow…Clay is the radio personality behind the eight o'clock bomb on Baltimore's own favorite urban station WERQ. He's also the busy C.E.O. of Clayway Records, signing up'n' coming rap diva April Love to the label last year. And Clay's acting career has been in full force all along. In 2005, Little Clayway appeared throughout Season 3 of HBO's THE WIRE. This year he also stars in the feature film Charm City. And then there's Still Moving Independently: The Takeover. Including raw uncut footage throughout his career, and a soundtrack including the hottest cuts from his 4 independently released albums. This is his story…

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MORE MORPHIUS EXCLUSIVES
SHIPPING STARTS 4/25/06

EXCLUSIVE!!
V/A
Title: Made In Brasil
Format: CD
Street Date: 5/2/06 (shipping starts 4/25/06)
Price: 8.49 USD Store / 7.99 USD Distro

While Baile Funk has become a buzzword on the blogs and the bassment party scene and movements like tropicalismo are finally getting their due from audiences across Europe and America, Brasil's many other significant contributions to the world of sound are still being criminally overlooked. As always, with an eye on what's next, WordSound sets the record straight with this compilation of the newest beats coming out of Brazil – and none of it baile funk! The Playaz: Bnegao is an artist who can flow as easily to a dub as to hip-hop. He has performed onstage in Rio, in fact, with none other than Public Enemy. Digital Dubs are Brasil's heavyweight dub champions, hands down. DJ Klos, who produced Sensational's Natural Shine album (WSCD044), is the prodigal son who finally returned home to Brasil (after 15 years in Brooklyn). Maga Bo, on the other hand, is an American expat who's set up shop in Rio. Mamelo Sound System, the only group here repping Sao Paulo, is currently at work on a new album with none other than longtime WordSound Producer Scotty Hard. And Anastacias is a hardcore rap trio who reps lovely for the ladies. None of these artists is a household name, but all they lack is the exposure! Enter WordSound head Skiz Fernando, who spent 3 months in Brasil soaking up the sounds and culture and meeting artists of every ilk before putting this compilation together, with the official WordSound Seal of Certified Dopeness!

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SPOTLIGHT ON:
TARANTULA HILL

For those who haven't heard, the Baltimore avant music performance space Tarantula Hill was severely damaged by fire last month. In an attempt to help raise money for the rebuilding effort Morphius Distribution is distributing a small number of Heresee titles. Heresee is the label run by Tarantula Hill's founders Twig Harper and Carly Ptak. They lost a portion of their catalog to smoke damage. For more info check out this link - http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/06-03/23.shtml

Here's what we have to offer:

NAUTICAL ALMANAC 'Cover The Earth' LP -- 8.49 store / 8.00 distro
CARLY PTAK DVD+CD-R -- 10.99 store / 10.50 distro
HARPER, TWIG 'Intuitive American' LP -- 7.49 store / 7.00 distro

SPOTLIGHT ON:
LONG LIVE DEATH

Review of "to do more than God...to die" from Aquarius Records: Solem, folkish "spirituals" from a band about which we know just a few things: they're from Balitmore and include members of the very-different-sounding Oxes, and they spent some time last year on tour opening for Will Oldham, who was apparently taken by Long Live Death's "incantory" aspects. Their music is melancholic and stately, not quite of our world, though clearly with an indie-rock pedigree. A short little album (just over 25 minutes) of some power and grace. And, along with voices, cello, gongs, flute, bells, and violin there's musical saw on it, which is always a plus!

LONG LIVE DEATH 'To Do More Than God...To Die' CD -- 6.49 store / 5.99 distro
LONG LIVE DEATH 'Bound To The Wheel' CD -- 8.49 store / 7.99 distro