savage republic
ltm catalogue


Rising from the Los Angeles underground of the 1980s, Savage Republic forged an astonishing reputation by virtue of five mesmerizing studio albums and a string of legendary live performances. Forever shifting, their brand of ritualistically tribal exhibitions blurred the boundaries of postpunk, industrial and soundtrack music, incorporating minimalist bass rumbles, exotic metal percussion, primal chants, middle eastern melodies and even shards of surf guitar. Add to this iconic letterpress graphics by founder member Bruce Licher, and Savage Republic stack up as one of the most exciting and potent experimental groups to emerge during the last three decades. To read detailed artist biography click here. To order CDs click here.


PROCESSION (AN AURAL HISTORY 1981-2010) LTMCD 2557 £12 (2xCD set)
Inspired equally by punk and Krautrock, Savage Republic recorded four albums in their original incarnation and were particularly popular in Europe, touring regularly, and even grazing mainstream consciousness with an appearance on the soundtrack of the movie Silence of the Lambs. The original band split in 1989, but reformed twelve years later, releasing their fifth album 1938 in 2007. A best of collection, Procession includes selected tracks from all five studio albums - Tragic Figures, Ceremonial, Jamahiriya, Customs and 1938 - as well as rare singles including Swordfighter. The deluxe double disc package also includes a 45 minute bonus live CD digitally recorded at a festival concert in Spain on 30 January 2010. In addition the album features artwork by Bruce Licher, and 16 pages of archive images and detailed liner notes by James Nice. Full tracklist: (disc one) The Ivory Coast, Next to Nothing, Film Noir, Mobilization, Siege, Andelusia, Ceremonial, Walking Backwards, Viva La Rock n' Roll, Tabula Rasa, Jamahiriya, The Birds of Pork, Sucker Punch, 1938, Siam, Sword Fighter; (disc two - live) Year of Exile, Next To Nothing, Mobilization, Trek, Siam, Viva La Rock n' Roll, 1938, Procession

Reviews: 'America's best-kept secret. No superpower likes to concede the presence of an autonomous state within its borders' (The Wire, 1988); 'Savage Republic are the best group you never stood still for' (NME, 03/1986); 'Though formed in Los Angeles, SR's tendancy to bend music into art shapes had a lot in common with Wire's approach to recording. Tracks like Next To Nothing are SR's own blend of art rock with a simple guitar melody and soft vocal that really command attention. On the other hand, the jangle and swagger of Walking Backwards shows that REM did not have exclusive rights over American indie hearts, while the six minute Birds of Pork is a throbbing instrumental standout which bends time between Krautrock, Chrome, Cabaret Voltaire and the Republic's own internal synergy. There are also two tracks from 2007's reunion album 1938, bringing listeners up to speed. A second disc of live workouts recorded in 2010, fantastic sleevenotes and the 2009 single Swordfighter seals the deal' (Record Collector, 10/2010); 'A fierce, tribal-rhythmned post-punk ensemble, Savage Republic lit up the LA intelligentsia from 1981-89 with a mostly-instrumental art rock, incorporating mesmeric, repetitive, majestic, thoroughly cinematic, Eastern guitar signatures along with taut, tense, terse bass, drums, and percussion. Top it all off with a typically flooring fine-art Licher-design sleeve, as ever IPR’s hallmark, and a second live disc from Spain from 2010 and you have a top-notch package' (The Big Takeover, 09/2010); 'Back in its '80s heyday, Savage Republic was one of the few rock acts that could genuinely be called challenging. Led primarily by guitarist Bruce Licher, the L.A.-based ensemble combined the tribal throb of early industrial music, the steady drive of Krautrock and the angular melodic jangle of postpunk into a noisy, vibrant stew that's as capable of soothing as scorching. Vocals were kept to a minimum, often blurted or shouted more than sung, and instrumental virtuosity took a back seat to ensemble energy and intensity. Though the band itself found little by way of mainstream success, it garnered enough of a loyal cult following to be not only fondly remembered, but influential on acts as varied as Neurosis and Wilderness. Procession: An Aural History 1981-2010 collects tracks from across the band's career, drawing mostly from its Reagan-era LPs and 45s, but also including cuts from its recent reunion work. Underscoring that notion is a bonus live disk, recorded at a Spanish festival in 2010, that shows the band (minus Licher but with his blessing) as fiery and creative as ever - check the sublime opener Year of Exile or the cheerily goofy Trek. Ultimately Procession is almost a teaser, a mere hint of what Savage Republic is capable. Hopefully this collection serves as a calling card to set us up for a full-on reissue campaign for the band's entire catalog' (Blurt.com, 12/2010)


AUTEUR LABELS: INDEPENDENT PROJECT RECORDS LTMCD 2544 £10
Savage Republic contribute two tracks (The Ivory Coast and O Andonis) to this acclaimed IPR compilation CD, which also features tracks by other SR-related artists including Bruce Licher, For Against, Scenic, Camper Van Beethoven, Autumnfair, Abecedarians, Party Boys, Alisons Halo, Human Hands, 10 Ft Faces, Deception Bay, Woo, Indian Bingo, Fourwaycross, Half String, Tone, Springhouse and Jeffrey Clark.

Reviews: 'Outstanding compilations, sophisticated scholarship' (The Wire, 08/2008); 'One of the most fascinating label samplers, IPR is a magical realm where uncommercial approach meets accessible hook - with complete love, care and joy in creation. Here's to another 30 years!' (The Big Takeover, 05/2010); 'Ordered more or less chronologically, it's possible to chart the development not just of the label, but the ramshackle, reckless postpunk which it championed from its inception. A stark, abrasive reminder of the power and importance of artistic purity and freedom. Four stars' (Record Collector, 07/2010)

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