Testpattern - Apres midi Reissue (Feb 2025)

[yipyipcoyote]

Classic techno pop album from 1982 finally getting another reissue on CD and vinyl. Previously only reissued on CD once in 1990, or as part of Yen Box Vol. 1. in 1996. Produced by Haruomi Hosono. No bonus tracks.

[discoginfo]

Interesting, however it has been re-issued at least twice on CD since 19980.
There are extra tracks that could have been added. /JW

http://www.discog.info/testpattern.html

[Uvox]

thanks for introducing this band to me, never heard them before. sounds like Telex would in their school days)))

[yipyipcoyote]

Yes an attempt was made to reissue it when Sony took over Alfa, under the "order made factory" project, but I read on a Japanese blog that it fell through because the number of pre-orders did not reach target. So basically DYCL-154 never materialized...?

Regarding bonus tracks, I too was hoping to see the 2 tracks aired on the Tokyo Rock TV program, or at least the compilation tracks "Ryugu" and "Friday", well...

[ABOATES]

Had been interested in this on CD for a long time, but it was too expensive. I've now ordered it (along w the Interior first album). Thanks for the tip!

[humanracer]

I am more interested in the upcoming YMO live boxset which features unreleased recordings from the 1979 World Tour. Crazy to think Hosono is still releasing stuff from the vaults. YMO clearly love their fans.

[Kilbey]

This is arguably the only Telex influenced album that I have. I have never understood why there have been so many Kraftwerk clones around, but almost nothing sounding like Telex. Apart from some music produced by Telex members, I can only remember Bachelor's "International" (with Kraftwerk influences as well) and some early Hyperbubble stuff that had traces of Telex. What a shame.

[ABOATES]

Your post got me thinking about any artists that I listen to that either sound like or may have been influenced by Telex. Interesting point and you are right that it is surprising how few artists I can think of that fit the bill.
The artists that come to my mind are: Yello, Art of Noise, Holger Hiller, Sparks, Cluster, YMO, Gary Numan, John Foxx, The Human league, Our Daughters Wedding, The Residents, Renaldo and the Loaf, Devo.

[Kilbey]

Your post got me thinking about any artists that I listen to that either sound like or may have been influenced by Telex. Interesting point and you are right that it is surpiring how few artists I can think of that fit the bill.
The artists that come to my mind are: Yello, Art of Noise, Holger Hiller, Sparks, Cluster, YMO, Gary Numan, John Foxx, The Human league, Our Daughters Wedding, The Residents, Renaldo and the Loaf, Devo.

Some of the artists you mentioned, indeed, share the same ideology with Telex, especially Sparks (their electro disco period) and Devo (1981-1982 period). Upbeat, often humorous, slightly quirky electronic pop. But what I meant was the Telex sounds and the feel of mostly happy retro-futurism (unlike Kraftwerk's soulless calculator-like reality). I don't expect creative heights from such artists, I just need more Telex inspired music, as the Belgian band has released too few albums. After all, I have never come across any really interesting Kraftwerk imitators, they are all too boring to my taste. But I can imagine how happy they make Kraftwerk fans who also think that the German band has produced too few albums and they just want more of their music, even if it's often just imitation.

[ABOATES]

I agree with you on both points. Not many Kraftwerk-type artists I like. Also, not many artists like Telex. The bands/artists I mentioned are close, but you are correct to say that really only Sparks and Devo are similar.

[oldwaver2]

Out of all the Techno-pop/Electro bands like Kraftwerk, Telex, Yellow Magic Orchestra and Yello.
Yello - Stella is the greatest release of them all. Stella is "The Dark Side Of The Moon" of the 80s.

[Passing_Stranger]

The problem with Telex is that they were just usual pop stuff only arranged for synths. Yes, sounded quite pioneering for 1978-80, but they didn't have the necessary originality of approach that Kraftwerk or, say, YMO or Yello had. That's why they didn't influence many people.

[Kilbey]

Among the four bands mentioned, Kraftwerk, Telex, YMO, Yello, only Kraftwerk is really influential. All the others have a very distinctive sound and are respected in the history of electronic pop, but they didn't have many followers. This is partly because Kraftwerk's music is more repetitive and meccano-like, and it's easy to use its patterns to construct your own models. The other bands have deeper roots in traditional pop, which requires songs with different emotions and a romantic element from time to time. This is harder to replicate.
And by the way, let's not forget about Moroder's "From Here to Eternity", which preceded even "Man-Machine". It was equally influential, being also mechanical, but more playful side of the futuristic reality in which it is difficult to understand whether the robots are servants or masters.

[Chuck50]

The most frustrating aspect of the world of the internet compared to information or news produced 33 years ago, is anyone without a proven body of work or credentials can post information, news or opinions. Most, if not all print media produced before the internet had fact checkers, editors, and a legal staff. Now days the internet is full opinions, conjecture and misinformation. Everyone is a Google Genius and Wiki Researcher. It takes a bit of effort to find creditable sources and information.

https://mixmag.asia/feature/the-amazing ... -orchestra

https://www.electricityclub.co.uk/oh-ye ... -of-yello/
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/me ... e/47623094
https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/shad ... ello/11153
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/artist/yello/
https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/yello
https://www.loudersound.com/features/dieter-meier-yello

https://www.electricityclub.co.uk/telex-interview/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/telex-interview
https://echoesanddust.com/2021/04/telex-this-is-telex/

[Kilbey]

The most frustrating aspect of the world of the internet compared to information or news produced 33 years ago, is anyone without a proven body of work or credentials can post information, news or opinions. Most, if not all print media produced before the internet had fact checkers, editors, and a legal staff. Now days the internet is full opinions, conjecture and misinformation. Everyone is a Google Genius and Wiki Researcher. It takes a bit of effort to find creditable sources and information.

/

And why exactly is the possibility to share our opinions with others frustrating? Isn't this the whole point of forums and boards, to exchange views, opinions, impressions? What specifically frustrates you about this discussion? Could you please elaborate a bit more?