News
5 November 2026 – Morphine Unearth Spaceman Charm and Give a Forgotten Mark Sandman Recording a Remarkable Second Life
By Editorial Team - November 5, 2026
Summary
Alternative rock icons Morphine share 1998 archival gem Spaceman Charm ahead of Partisan Records collection Cocoon, featuring Mark Sandman and Dana Colley.
Key Facts
- Morphine unearth unreleased 1998 song 'Spaceman Charm' featuring late frontman Mark Sandman.
- Previews forthcoming 8-track archival collection Cocoon, arriving December 4 via Partisan Records.
- Features newly contributed saxophone by Dana Colley, notes by Hanif Abdurraqib, and a NYC exhibition at Fridman Gallery.
- Entities: Morphine, Mark Sandman, Dana Colley, Jay Hilt, Paul Q. Kolderie, Sean Slade, Partisan Records, Hanif Abdurraqib, Fridman Gallery
- Tags: morphine, spaceman-charm, mark-sandman, dana-colley, jay-hilt, cocoon, partisan-records, alternative-rock, low-rock
American alternative-rock group Morphine have released "Spaceman Charm", a previously unheard recording featuring late frontman Mark Sandman. Originally captured during 1998 studio sessions, the composition provides another preview of the forthcoming archival album Cocoon, scheduled for December 4 through Partisan Records.
Morphine developed a distinctive musical identity during the 1990s through an unusual instrumental combination of Sandman's two-string slide bass, saxophone and percussion. Their recordings frequently occupied a musical territory somewhere between alternative rock, blues and jazz, establishing a sound that remains remarkably recognisable. "Spaceman Charm" was recorded with producers Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade, featuring Sandman alongside drummer Jay Hilt. Nearly three decades later, saxophonist Dana Colley returned to the original material and contributed new instrumental parts.
The accompanying lyric visualiser incorporates one of Sandman's original watercolour paintings. Cocoon contains eight compositions drawn from recording sessions that were eventually set aside while the group developed material for their final studio album The Night. The archival collection also includes previously unseen artwork and photography, with accompanying notes by writer Hanif Abdurraqib. A New York exhibition featuring material from Sandman's personal archive is scheduled for December 4–6 at Fridman Gallery.
"Spaceman Charm" offers an unusually intimate connection with a musician whose influence extends far beyond conventional alternative-rock history. Apparently some recordings simply require twenty-eight years before the rest of the world is ready to hear them. Discover low-rock and jazz-rock in our indie rock section and view more articles in our news archive.