Test Dept

TEST DEPT, banda formada em 1981 no sul de Londres, na decadente área do centro da cidade de New Cross.

Os Test Dept sempre rejeitaram o (som) convencional e desenvolveram um estilo que reflectia a deterioração do meio onde viviam. Os seus membros, como meio de criar o seu particular som, transformavam os diversos objectos encontrados nas zonas industriais em instrumentos “musicais”, juntando essa parafernália de objectos aos ditos convencionais.

Desde o seu início os Test Dept nas suas performances criavam um ambiente único em que aliavam a utilização de slides e projecções de filmes às suas revigorantes ambiências industriais.

Com o desenrolar do tempo e as suas poderosas performances, houve uma conjugação de factores que resultou num colectivo de artistas alternativos denominado " The Ministry of Power". Assim, foram formadas colaborações entre cineastas, escultores, bailarinos e grupos politicamente activos, incluindo por exemplo um grupo de mineiros. Esse (fantástico) registo teve o nome de “Shoulder To Shoulder”, e foi editado em 1985.

Decorria o ano de 1992, por altura do CITEMOR, em Montemor-o-Velho, tive oportunidade de assistir a uma performance dos Test Dept, no entanto, de má memória, pois ao invés da vertente industrial pura, os Test Dept trouxeram a Montemor-o-Velho uma autentica festa rave.

Em 1998, os Test Dept dissolveram-se, numa altura em que a sua musica ainda estava mais direccionada para as pistas de dança.

DISCOGRAFIA:

Ecstacy Under Duress - 1982 / 83

(Pleasantly Surprised, 29-XI-84,1984) 1000-copy limited edition MC in cloth bag with photographs (second edition in cardboard sleeve), reissued as (Total TFI, 1 TFL 2, 1991) CD, and as (ROIR, 8213, 1995) CD

A collection of live material and a few tentative studio dabblings

Originally released as a cassette in 1983

Compulsion - 1983

[ TEST 112] - Some Bizzare 12 "

The first single, released on Some Bizzare.

Co-produced Kirk / Mallinder & Flood / Trigger

Beating The Retreat - 1984 / 1987

[TEST 2 & 3] - Phonogram / Some Bizzare.

The first studio album orignally released in a boxed set of 2 x 12 " records and later as a single album / CD release on Phonogram / Some Bizzare.

Atonal' & Hamburg Live - 1985

These recordings were made at the Berlin - 'AtonalL' Festival and the Kampnagel- Hamburg in 1985

European Network - 1985

Live East-West European tour released by The V2 Organisation, 1985.

MC in box with insert information

Shoulder To Shoulder - 1985

[ MOP 1] - Some Bizarre / Ministry of Power LP

In collaboration with South Wales Striking Miners Choir.

Fundraising album now deleted.

The Unacceptable Face Of Freedom - 1986

[MOP 2] - Some Bizarre / Ministry of Power LP

The Unacceptable Face of Freedom released on Some Bizzare in 1986 was the second 'Ministry of Power' collaboration. It involved the artist Malcom Poynter whose sculptures formed the basis for the award winning album cover.

TDA - The Faces Of Freedom 1 2 & 3 - 1986

[MOP 12.1]

12" dancefloor single Faces of Freedom 1, 2 & 3.

Released under the pseudonym TDA (Taking and Driving Away).

A Good Night Out - 1987

[MOP 3] - Some Bizarre / Ministry of Power LP

A Good Night Out, TD's final LP for Some Bizzare

Victory / Cha Till Sinn Tuille - 1987[12 MOP 13] - Some Bizarre / Ministry of Power single

12 " Single from 'A Good Night Out' LP.

Terra Firma - 1988

[SUB 33009-12]

A one off album for Belgium's Sub Rosa label.

Natura Victus - 1988[SUB 12005-13]

12" Single for Sub Rosa

Materia Prima - 1989

[ DEPT 1] - Jungle / Caroline, 1990, (reissued by Invisible, INV 084, 1997) LP/CD

From the soundtracks to the "Materia Prima" shows performed in Holland, Italy, Finland and Denmark.

Gododdin - 1989

[MOP 4] - Ministry of Power

Gododdin, a collaboration with Welsh avant-garde theatre company Brith Gof (Faint Recollection).

Pax Brittanica - 1990

[MOP 6] - Jungle Records / Ministry of Power

An Oratorio in five movements with score from John Eacott played by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and conducted by the celebrated Scottish composer James MacMillan.

Part soundtrack to the epic 'Second Coming' show, performed at the St. Rollox Railway Works, Glasgow, once the largest producer of trains in the British Empire.

Pax Americana - 1990

[MOP 5] - Jungle Records / Ministry of Power

12' Single

New World Order - 1991

[MOP7] - Jungle Records / Ministry of Power

12' Single

Proven In Action - 1991

[DEPT 2] - Jungle Records / Ministry of Power

Recorded live at New Music America, Montréal Musiques Actuelles, November 1990.

Bang On It! - 1993

[MOP 8] - Jungle Records / Ministry of Power

12'Single

Legacy - 1994

[FREUD 047] - Jungle Records / Ministry of Power

Jungle Records singles compilation 1990-1993

Totality 1 & 2 - 1995

[KK 135] / [KK 139] / [ INV 088] - KK Records / Invisible Records

Double single release

Totality - 1995

[ KK140] / [ INV 056] - KK Records / Invisible Records

Double album release

The Enigma of Dr Dee - 1997

[KK 173] - KK Records / Invisible Records

12' Single from 'Tactics for Evolution'

Tactics For Evolution - 1997

[KK 174] - KK Records / Invisible Records

Final LP release for KK

Página oficial:

http://testdept.org.uk/td/index.html

Bilhete de concerto:
http://tickets1.blogspot.com/search/label/Test%20Dept