To mark its 45th anniversary, Independent Project Records is celebrating its past, present, and future with The Well: The Independent Project Records Collection II, an expansive two-disc, 41-song compilation that gathers decades of genre-defying music from the label’s storied archives. Curated by founder Bruce Licher, the collection brings together rare, unreleased, and forthcoming tracks from IPR’s roster, artists who have long shaped the label’s unique creative identity.

The set’s lead single, “Midnight Chapel” by Shiva Burlesque, marks the band’s first new song in thirty-five years. The cult Los Angeles group, formed by Jeffrey Clark and Grant-Lee Phillips in the late 1980s, reunites here with David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) on bass and multi-instrumentalist Dana Gumbiner. It’s a fitting centerpiece for a compilation that bridges IPR’s early post-punk beginnings with its renewed energy today.

Across The Well, familiar names mingle with long-lost gems. Volume One features selections from Barry Craig (A Produce), Camper Van Beethoven, Greg Lisher, Lanterna, Middle Class, Savage Republic, Scenic, Shiva Burlesque, David J, and more, along with never-before-heard recordings by Jeffrey Clark, Deception Bay, and Spadra Moods. Volume Two continues the journey with additional unreleased material and deep cuts from the likes of Red Temple Spirits, Woo, and Boxhead Ensemble, tracing the label’s reach from its early experimental roots to its modern reinventions.

For collectors and fans, The Well also highlights the enduring aesthetic that has defined Independent Project Records since the beginning. Licher’s hand-letterpressed artwork and meticulous packaging have made each release a work of art unto itself. From his Grammy-nominated design for For Against’s debut to the iconic look of albums by Camper Van Beethoven, Savage Republic, and Stereolab, IPR has long been as visually distinctive as it is sonically adventurous.

Since relaunching in 2020, Licher and Clark have revitalized IPR with a mix of new music, rediscovered albums, and lovingly crafted reissues from artists such as Half String, Red Temple Spirits, and Springhouse. Upcoming releases include fresh material from Woo, David J, and Driveway Ceiling, as well as the official soundtrack for Louder Than You Think (A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement).

The Well: The Independent Project Records Collection II will be released physically on December 19th.