Testube

Testube is an American solo electronic music project, founded in 1994 by Jeff Danos (born May 9, 1976). His music spans multiple subgenres of electronic music, including Industrial, Glitch, Experimental, IDM, Electroclash, Darkwave, Ambient, Synthpop and EBM.[Ref 1][Ref 2]

History

Testube began in 1994 as a tribal-influenced experimental electronic side-project of the early 1990s Industrial music group Wrack Process. The earliest recordings occurred in 1994–1995 and featured musical contributions from Jeff Danos and Bryan Elsloo. From these early recordings, the two musicians released a self-titled Testube cassette in March 1996 on UEF Records.[Ref 3] Following the dissolution of Wrack Process later that year, co-founder Jeff Danos briefly produced solo material under the monikers "Danos" and "Marble I/Orchard". By April 1997, Jeff had re-assumed the Testube moniker for his solo music project. Testube originated in Englewood, Colorado and relocated to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 2006.[Ref 4]

Music charts

Reconstructive Surgery, an album of Testube songs remixed by Danos and other artists, appeared on the CMJ national RPM top-20 charts for six weeks in the Autumn of 2000, peaking at the number 4 chart position that September.[Ref 5]

Critical response

Australian journal Blatant Propaganda praised Testube's Bioplaza album for its "gothic-medieval melodies and dreamy electronic-body-music".[Ref 6] Chain D.L.K. website reviewed Corporation album stating it is "not for the timid or pop oriented, yet still fully functional on the dancefloor!" [Ref 1] Regarding Testube's Off-Purpose album, UK-based Sphere Magazine wrote "this collection has personality that cannot be turned off or even ignored." [Ref 7] StarVox Webzine proclaimed "Testube are an anomaly. Brilliant beyond measure, and yet criminally overlooked... How does this work, people? How is it that Testube isn't spoken of with the same reverence as Skinny Puppy? The material is that good, let me assure you." [Ref 8]

Remixing

Jeff Danos has remixed other electronic music groups, including Torrent Vaccine, Destroid, Ptyl, I,Parasite, Skin Contact, Pain Station, Burikusu!!!, Thine Eyes, Left Spine Down, the Unter Null side-project Stray, Diverje, B! Machine, Monstrum Sepsis, Paranoid Axis, Biopsy, White Trash Compactor, Leæther Strip (for the single Carry Me) and works by fellow Glim Records recording artist LowHero DLL.[Ref 3] Jeff's audio post-production is often credited as a Testube "remix" or "treatment".[Ref 3]

Live performance

Testube rarely plays in a live context, as it is primarily a studio music project. However, there have been a handful of live performances, the first of which was in 1996 at Cafe Euphrates in Denver, CO. Albuquerque, NM is the only other city to host live shows with Testube.

Film composing

Jeff Danos has contributed original music to motion picture soundtracks, including the cult film Sleeping Pills and the short film Refraction.[Ref 9][Ref 10]

Record labels

Testube has been associated with UEF (United Endangered Front) Records (1996–1998), DSBP Records (1999–2007),[Ref 4][Ref 11] and Glim Records (starting in 2008).

Discography

Below is a partial Testube discography:

Release TitleArtistRecords LabelFormat(s)Release DateNotes
Off PurposeTestubeGlim RecordsCD, digital downloadMay 2010 [Ref 12]
TreatmentsVarious ArtistsGlim RecordsCDSep 2009
CovertTestubeGlim RecordsCDJul 2008
RefractionTestubeClandestCINE Films35mm, DVDOct 2007short film
Sleeping PillsJeff DanosKinotonik Pictures35mm, DVDDec 2003feature film
CorporationTestubeDSBP RecordsCDSep 2003
Bioplaza RevisitedTestubeDSBP RecordsCDNov 2000
Daisypusher EPMarble I/OrchardMP3.comCD, digital downloadAug 2000
Carry Me (Testube remix)Leæther StripMetropolis RecordsCD SingleMay 2000remix
Carry Me (Testube remix)Leæther StripBloodline RecordsCD SingleMar 2000remix
Reconstructive SurgeryTestubeDSBP RecordsCDMay 2000reached No. 4 on CMJ RPM chart
BioplazaTestubeSelf ReleasedCDMay 1999
Circuit Noir Vol. 2Various ArtistsUEF RecordsCDFeb 1999
Vertigo GrimTestubeUEF RecordsCD-RSep 1998
PreyerTestubePromoCD-RApr 1998Promo Only
Circuit Noir Vol. 1Various ArtistsUEF RecordsCDFeb 1998
Post-ApocalypseTestubeUEF RecordsCD-RFeb 1998
Usable Frequency ResponseTestubeUEF RecordsCD-R, MiniDisc, CassetteJul 1997
Second SoulTestubeUEF RecordsCD-R, MiniDisc, CassetteApr 1997
SoulDanosPromoCassetteNov 1996Promo Only

References
  1. Chain D.L.K. Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine Corporation album review
  2. last.fm tags
  3. "Testube". Testube.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. "Biography". Testube.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. CMJ Archived 2010-07-31 at the Wayback Machine RPM chart Sept 2000
  6. Blatant Propaganda Bioplaza album review
  7. spheremag.co.uk Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Off-Purpose album review 07 May 2010
  8. StarVox.net Webzine review of Bioplaza and Reconstructive Surgery Dec 2000
  9. side-line.com news 08 Feb 2008
  10. Refraction at the IMDb
  11. side-line.com news 08 Aug 2007
  12. side-line.com news 24 May 2010
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