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.