Independent Project Records, formed in 1980, helped launch the careers of bands such as Camper Van Beethoven and Savage Republic.  Now, founder Bruce Licher of Savage Republic and partner Jeffrey Clark are relaunching IPR with a new campaign featuring remastered and expanded editions of the label’s back catalogue titles plus previously unreleased recordings from a variety of underground musicians.

The IPR relaunch kicks into high gear in early 2021 with reissues from Half String (1996’s A Fascination with Heights), Bruce Licher’s band Scenic (1995’s Incident at Cima), and Jeffrey Clark’s band Shiva Burlesque (1990’s Mercury Blues).  Each album will be expanded with previously unreleased music and issued on both CD and vinyl, with the packaging utilizing the label’s signature letterpress printing.  But before those arrive in the new year, fans can explore IPR’s discography on a range of digital and physical releases available now.  Darla Records is currently distributing the following IPR titles on digital platforms:

• Jeffrey Clark – if Is*
• Jeffrey Clark – Sheer Golden Hooks*
• Lanterna – Backyards (Vinyl Only)
• Bruce Licher – Exploratorium*
• Bruce Licher – Owens Valley Driving Music*
• Red Temple Spirits – First Demo Tape
• Red Temple Spirits – Dancing to Restore an Eclipsed Moon
• Red Temple Spirits – If Tomorrow I Were Leaving For Lhasa, I Wouldn’t Stay a Minute More…
• Red Temple Spirits (self-titled 3-CD set combining the above three releases)
• Savage Republic – Live Trek 1986*
• Savage Republic – Ceremonial
• Savage Republic – Customs
• Savage Republic – Jamahiriya Democratique et Populaire de Sauvage
• Savage Republic – Recordings from Live Performances 1981 – 1983
• Savage Republic – Trudge*
• Scenic – Acquatica*
• Scenic – Incident At Cima*
• Scenic – Sage*
• Scenic –Spheres*

(*) new to digital

Additionally, a number of limited-edition physical titles plus the lavish 240-page coffee table book Savage Impressions: An Aesthetic Expedition Through the Archives of Independent Project Records & Press can be purchased through the Merch section of IPR’s Bandcamp page.

Bruce Licher comments in the press release, “Independent Project Records was started as a UCLA fine art class project while I was studying under provocative conceptual artist Chris Burden, and has been my passion and creative outlet ever since.  What started out as an avenue to record my own music and release it in artistic packaging, not only with Savage Republic but also with my later band Scenic, grew into a label that released new music from other bands I loved. It’s a great feeling to be able to reissue these records years later on compact disc, vinyl and digital formats as well.”

Fans can explore the IPR ethos further in the 2019 documentary Desolation Center from director Stewart Swezey.  Licher and his bands Savage Republic and Scenic were featured in the film which chronicles the early 1980s Southern California “happenings” that inspired such festivals as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Burning Man.

Check out IPR’s currently-available catalogue at Bandcamp, and watch this space for more information on the label’s upcoming expanded reissues!