Album artwork for Morphosa Harmonia by Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit (Larry Mullins)

The duet album between Thomas Wydler, longtime drummer-alumni of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and Die Haut, and Toby Dammit, also known as Larry Mullins, who has since joined the Bad Seeds as well. Morphosa Harmonia was originally released in 2004 on CD only. A vinyl release was planned, but the label closed doors, thus the album retreated into the shadow unknown to many. The 11-song set was culled from a large body of musical sketches by Thomas Wydler in progress in the early 2000's. Wydler gathered an amazing cast of musicians, including Kristof Hahn (Swans, Les Hommes Sauvages), Jochen Arbeit (Einsturzende Neubauten, Die Haut, Automat), Yoyo Rahm (Swans), Beate Bartel (Liaisons Dangereuses, Mania D, Matador) and Martin Peter (Die Haut). All the music was recorded in Berlin. Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit, longtime close friends searching for a project together, combined their tastes, talent and humor on these 11 sketches.

In 2002 Dammit arrived in Berlin somewhat empty handed and dazed at what to contribute, as Wydler had already designed much of the drumming and percussion landscapes. With considerable thought a radical chance had to be taken. Armed with a rare Buchla synthesizer, a vocal microphone and tape echo, Dammit asked Wydler to give him a chance to explore some strange ideas. Large phonetic vocal choirs were built, sometimes beautiful, mysterious or a horrific nightmare. Each piece gained unique characters and themes. Thus a strange and visual musical world slowly appeared before them; the cinema of Morphosa Harmonia. Later that week Wydler and Dammit attended a dinner at the home of German artist Martin Eder. As they explained their strange new project, Eder expressed interest in contributing the artwork. At that time Eder had completed a parallel series of beautiful watercolor portraits of both cats and women. Combining both side by side displayed varieties of a possible morphosis from feline to feminine, (or vice versa) and a mysterious yet complimentary layer came to their musical characters. It appeared to complete the cinematic world they had designed; thus a true harmonic morphosis exposed, balanced in music and painting, the strange characters of Morphosa Harmonia.

Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit (Larry Mullins)

Morphosa Harmonia

Grand Chess
Album artwork for Morphosa Harmonia by Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit (Larry Mullins)
LP

£69.99

Limited Edition LP in a box with art-prints & booklet.

Black
Released 09/09/2022Catalogue Number

HTLPBOX9

Learn more
Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit (Larry Mullins)

Morphosa Harmonia

Grand Chess
Album artwork for Morphosa Harmonia by Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit (Larry Mullins)
LP

£69.99

Limited Edition LP in a box with art-prints & booklet.

Black
Released 09/09/2022Catalogue Number

HTLPBOX9

Learn more

The duet album between Thomas Wydler, longtime drummer-alumni of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and Die Haut, and Toby Dammit, also known as Larry Mullins, who has since joined the Bad Seeds as well. Morphosa Harmonia was originally released in 2004 on CD only. A vinyl release was planned, but the label closed doors, thus the album retreated into the shadow unknown to many. The 11-song set was culled from a large body of musical sketches by Thomas Wydler in progress in the early 2000's. Wydler gathered an amazing cast of musicians, including Kristof Hahn (Swans, Les Hommes Sauvages), Jochen Arbeit (Einsturzende Neubauten, Die Haut, Automat), Yoyo Rahm (Swans), Beate Bartel (Liaisons Dangereuses, Mania D, Matador) and Martin Peter (Die Haut). All the music was recorded in Berlin. Thomas Wydler and Toby Dammit, longtime close friends searching for a project together, combined their tastes, talent and humor on these 11 sketches.

In 2002 Dammit arrived in Berlin somewhat empty handed and dazed at what to contribute, as Wydler had already designed much of the drumming and percussion landscapes. With considerable thought a radical chance had to be taken. Armed with a rare Buchla synthesizer, a vocal microphone and tape echo, Dammit asked Wydler to give him a chance to explore some strange ideas. Large phonetic vocal choirs were built, sometimes beautiful, mysterious or a horrific nightmare. Each piece gained unique characters and themes. Thus a strange and visual musical world slowly appeared before them; the cinema of Morphosa Harmonia. Later that week Wydler and Dammit attended a dinner at the home of German artist Martin Eder. As they explained their strange new project, Eder expressed interest in contributing the artwork. At that time Eder had completed a parallel series of beautiful watercolor portraits of both cats and women. Combining both side by side displayed varieties of a possible morphosis from feline to feminine, (or vice versa) and a mysterious yet complimentary layer came to their musical characters. It appeared to complete the cinematic world they had designed; thus a true harmonic morphosis exposed, balanced in music and painting, the strange characters of Morphosa Harmonia.