Testtoon Records is following in footsteps, but it feels like the label is pounding its own path. Ambient and dub techno have been the focus so far, with the Belgian label looking at deep drone and satellite beams for inspiration.
The age of the “big” label in electronic music is gone. Some may argue it never existed, but there were imprints that were undeniably more influential than others. Warp, Rephlex and Underground Resistance (feel free to insert more) were responsible for inspiring and moulding many would-be’s. Those pioneering muses still exist but their sphere of influence has reduced. Many imprints are now taking up the mantel of “releaser” from a much more individual place.
Inspired by forgotten ambient sounds and obscure music from present and past Testtoon Records started in 2011. The Belgian label opened its doors with an LP, and then a 12”, from Oubrys aka Wannes Kolf. This one man ambient outfit from Hasselt had already released on U-Cover when Testtoon picked Kolf up for Terra Incognita after hearing a live performance. A darkened piece of field recordings and machine drone is the result, an album that looms with menace and purpose. Positronium followed as an EP. The 12” has the same claustrophobic quality of the LP, pummeling and raw.
For their latest, the Testtoon team have dipped into the past: Shoc Corridor. The group were an 80s experimental outfit. Their existence was short lived, with original members leaving the UK, and band, due to visa restrictions. Shoc Corridor disbanded following the suicide of one member and have been musically silent since. Now, some thirty years after their last release, Testtoon are bringing this forgotten group back to speakers. The central track has been taken from Experiments in Incest, Shoc Corridor’s debut album. “Artificial Horizon” is a textured, yet saddening, piece of burgeoning synth wave. The almost beatless piece sways on warm analogue lines but is pierced by wraith-like samples and a dewy eyed sorrow. The shadow filled world of Mordant Music is up first to remix. Ian Hicks, the man behind Mordant, takes the original and inserts motorcade moments and an industrial edge to produce a sinister and psychological piece. Bepotel’s remake is a stratified work of dub techno. Layer upon layer is folded and refolded before fluid chords are poured to produce a shimmering finish. Oubys closes the 12” with a rewiring of the original. Computer clicks and coding rumble and reassemble as glitch meets data. Signals course and collide for the finale.
Testtoon Records is following in footsteps, but it feels like the label is pounding its own path. Ambient and dub techno have been the focus so far, with the Belgian label looking at deep drone and satellite beams for inspiration. In a time of ambient revival Testtoon is making some interesting in-roads into this introspective audio ideal.
Shoc Corridor’s Artificial Horizon EP is available on Testtoon.
