Testtoon are doing what very few labels are. True the sounds of Ambient and Industrial are having a revival, but in many respect they are being relegated to digital releases. The Belgian imprint are bringing to wax evocative and engaging electronics and giving new artists the full vinyl treatment.
As the Summer cracks through the rain Belgium’s Testtoon returns with two EPs. The source for both 12”s is Red Stars Over Tokyo, a painter with a palette of minimal pulsations and Ambient warmth. The latest addition to the RSOT catalogue comes in the form of Crossing A Frozen Sea.
The 12” is only defined as such in technical terms. Despite containing only two tracks, the listener is generously offered over forty minutes of music across this slab. First up is the original. The listener is lifted into the lilting movements of UK Techno. Warmth washes in broad bars, analogue waves envelope the listener. Atmospherics are at the core but there are definite moments of Rising High and early Electronica coming into this heartening epic. Next is a remix from Magazine, the musical triumvirate of Daniel Ansorge, Jens-Uwe Beyer and John Harten. This group have been quiet on the releasing front but offer up a sterling take on the original. A steady bass is introduced, for any Dj minded out there, that draws in the unaware. Fragile coils of sound wrap and collide, soon unravelling into splintered droplets. An engrossing remix and excellent interpretation of the original.
RSOT are the source material for The Melody Attack Remixes. Machinefabriek (aka Rutger Zuy)dervelt is up first. Prolific is not the word to describe Zuydervelt’s output. In almost a decade of releasing Zuydervelt, under various aliases, has clocked up a dizzying number of albums, mini-albums, EPs and compilation appearances. For Testtoon the Dutch artist serves up his “Guilded Houses Remix.” Environmental electronics is all pervasive, floating chords fluctuate on a sea of subtle shifts. Vindicatrix, of Mordant Music fame, arrives next for two takes on the original. Aridtrax Melody Megamix. Beats enter for the first installment. An abstracted piece of distorted Techno is the product. A blunted pulse cuts through acidified keys and haunting samples for a work of brooding intent. IDM moments are present as crunch bleeds into the ultimate excursion, a final descent into the sonorous mind of Vindicatrix.
Testtoon are doing what very few labels are. True the sounds of Ambient and Industrial are having a revival, but in many respect they are being relegated to digital releases. The Belgian imprint are bringing to wax evocative and engaging electronics and giving new artists the full vinyl treatment. Two superb additions to the label from four meditative men.
Both releases are available on Testtoon. [Releases page]
