Test Icicles
Encyclopedia
Test Icicles were a short-lived dance punk band that formed in England
, primarily influenced by indie rock
but containing musical elements from a variety of genres (notably hip hop
, crossover thrash
and punk
). The band was formed in 2004 by Rory Attwell
and Sam Mehran
, who were later joined by Devonte Hynes. Hynes and Mehran were both 18 years old at the time of the band's conception.
, effectively in the role Hynes eventually filled. Gouw left the band for an extended trip to Indonesia at which time Attwell and Mehran recruited Hynes and changed the band name to Test Icicles, the new band name also being a suggestion from Gouw.
All three members of the group were involved in numerous, short-lived musical projects before the forming of Test Icicles; some of these taking shape only as songs posted on various Myspace
music profiles (such as Mehran's DANGEROUSDUDE output). Hynes and Mehran continued this trend throughout the existence of Test Icicles with the NLS Crew
, a collective founded by the pair and whose most prominent output was a remix of
Death from Above 1979
's "Black History Month" single (which is available on DFA 1979's Romance Bloody Romance).
According to the NME
, Domino had signed Test Icicles near sight-unseen. This probably explains the label's surprise and suggested re-working of initial album material completed by the band. In 2005 the group went to France with Simian Mobile Disco
producer James Ford
to record their debut album For Screening Purposes Only
.
Following the release of the album (on 31 October 2005) the band toured the United States
with Art Brut
before returning to Europe for additional performances.
The band then completed a small 5 show UK tour before splitting.
On 26 April 2006 the band released Dig Your Own Grave
, an EP meant as a farewell from the band. It featured a CD with remixes and unreleased tracks, and a DVD with the band's music videos and footage from the band's performance at the LSE in November 2005. It was first sold at the band's five final shows before becoming available in record stores a week later.
Attwell formed RAT:ATT:AGG (later known as 'Wrists'), who had a small number of releases and remixed for bands such as Fake Shark - Real Zombie!
and The Kills
. The band announced their official split on 30 November 2007 and offered fans free downloads of their songs. Attwell has since gone on to play drums and guitar in KASMs
, leaving in April 2010. He now works as a producer under the alias Brattwell Recordings and currently has a solo project under the name Warm Brains.
Hynes currently records under the name Lightspeed Champion
(also signed to Domino Records) and in early 2008 released a successful album entitled 'Falling Off the Lavender Bridge
'. Hynes has also collaborated with the band Whirlwind Heat
under the name Lightspeed Heat
. In 2007 they released a 7" EP
. This, however, was another one off side project.
Mehran is believed to have moved back to America after the split and is claimed to have been spotted working in a record store in New York. It is also believed he is no longer in contact with his former bandmates. Mehran now works in several projects under the alias Sam Meringue. Some include - Matrix Metals, Yoga, Explorers, Blues Runner, Wingdings, Foxy Baby, Outer Limits Recordings & The Sweethearts.
— drums
At live shows the members would play along to pre-recorded drum and bass tracks played from an iPod
.
The band shared song-writing duties, with most music being written by Attwell and Mehran
Amps - All three of the members would switch guitar duties, usually sharing the same amps. They usually used a Peavey
Valveking 1x12, a small Trace Elliot
combo, or a Fender Hot Rod deluxe.
Keyboard - Dev used a Korg
Microkorg
.
Effects - It is hard to see which effects they used, but one picture shows an Electro Harmonix WORM modulation pedal, which is probably responsible for the ring modulation effect in the song "Boa vs. Python". In an interview they claimed to use the same effects as nu-metal group KoЯn.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, primarily influenced by indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
but containing musical elements from a variety of genres (notably hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
and punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
). The band was formed in 2004 by Rory Attwell
Rory Attwell
Rory Attwell is a musician best known for his part in UK punk trio, Test Icicles, who formed in 2004 and played a handful of concerts before disbanding on 22 April 2006, after their sold out final show at the Astoria in London. During their time together they released the album, For Screening...
and Sam Mehran
Sam Mehran
Sam Mehran also known as Sam Meringue, is an American Australian musician best known for being a member of short lived band Test Icicles, as well as having been in a large number of other side projects.- Early life :...
, who were later joined by Devonte Hynes. Hynes and Mehran were both 18 years old at the time of the band's conception.
History
Prior to forming the band, Atwell, Hynes and Mehran (all of whom shared vocal and guitar duties) had met each other through mutual friends. The trio's preference for the same nightspots (such as the Afterskool night club, in London) also led to frequent meet-ups. Initially the band formed under the moniker 'Balls' with Ferry Gouw, who shortly after went on the form SemifinalistsSemifinalists
-History:Adriana Alba , Ferry Gouw and Chris Steele-Nicholson met at film school, the group attempted to create a soundtrack for a friend's film...
, effectively in the role Hynes eventually filled. Gouw left the band for an extended trip to Indonesia at which time Attwell and Mehran recruited Hynes and changed the band name to Test Icicles, the new band name also being a suggestion from Gouw.
All three members of the group were involved in numerous, short-lived musical projects before the forming of Test Icicles; some of these taking shape only as songs posted on various Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
music profiles (such as Mehran's DANGEROUSDUDE output). Hynes and Mehran continued this trend throughout the existence of Test Icicles with the NLS Crew
NLS Crew
NLS Crew was a short lived hip hop and thrash metal fusion group, formed as a spin off from Test Icicles.- History :The group was formed in February 2005 by Devonte Hynes, Sam Mehran, Deano Jo and photographer . NLS Crew amalgamized the music of Crunk, West Coast Rap, Thrash Metal and Electro, in a...
, a collective founded by the pair and whose most prominent output was a remix of
Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979 are a Toronto-based Canadian dance-punk/noise rock duo. Their album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine, was released in late 2004. The band broke up in 2006, but announced a reunion in 2011.-History:...
's "Black History Month" single (which is available on DFA 1979's Romance Bloody Romance).
According to the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, Domino had signed Test Icicles near sight-unseen. This probably explains the label's surprise and suggested re-working of initial album material completed by the band. In 2005 the group went to France with Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco are a United Kingdom-based production and remix team formed in 2005 by James Ford and Jas Shaw of the band Simian. Musically, they are known for their analogue production...
producer James Ford
James Ford
James Ford may refer to:*James A. Ford, American archaeologist*James Ford , benefactor of the Ford Lectures at Oxford University*James Ford , cricketer*James Ford , American newsreader and journalist for WPIX...
to record their debut album For Screening Purposes Only
For Screening Purposes Only
For Screening Purposes Only is the debut album by UK dance-punk trio Test Icicles. After being released in 2005, the album was critically praised for being unique and compelling in an increasingly homogenous indie music scene...
.
Following the release of the album (on 31 October 2005) the band toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Art Brut
Art Brut (band)
Art Brut are a Berlin-based English and German indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007...
before returning to Europe for additional performances.
Split
In February 2006, the band announced they were splitting up. In an interview with NME in March 2006, Hynes claimed that "We were never, ever that keen on the music. I understand that people liked it, but we personally, er, didn't.".The band then completed a small 5 show UK tour before splitting.
On 26 April 2006 the band released Dig Your Own Grave
Dig your own grave
Dig Your Own Grave was a CD/DVD EP released on 23 April 2006 by Test Icicles. It contained a CD of remixes and other previously unreleased material, which was accompanied by a DVD of music videos and live footage from a gig at the LSE in London, in November 2005. The EP was first sold on the band's...
, an EP meant as a farewell from the band. It featured a CD with remixes and unreleased tracks, and a DVD with the band's music videos and footage from the band's performance at the LSE in November 2005. It was first sold at the band's five final shows before becoming available in record stores a week later.
Post-Test-Icicles
After the band split, the individual members continued to stay active, becoming involved in a number of side projects between them.Attwell formed RAT:ATT:AGG (later known as 'Wrists'), who had a small number of releases and remixed for bands such as Fake Shark - Real Zombie!
Fake Shark - Real Zombie!
Fake Shark – Real Zombie! is a Canadian dance punk band. Formed in 2005, their musical style combines elements of IDM and post-hardcore. The name is a reference to Lucio Fulci's film Zombi 2, where a real shark and a zombie engage in combat.-History:...
and The Kills
The Kills
The Kills is a rock band formed by American singer Alison Mosshart and British guitarist Jamie Hince . Their first three albums, Keep On Your Mean Side, No Wow, and Midnight Boom, have garnered much critical praise...
. The band announced their official split on 30 November 2007 and offered fans free downloads of their songs. Attwell has since gone on to play drums and guitar in KASMs
KASMs
KASMs are a Dalston based post-punk quartet. The band consists of Rachel Mary Callaghan , Scott Walker , Rory Brattwell - born Attwell - and Gemma Fleet . The group formed in late 2007 and signed to Trouble Records in early 2008...
, leaving in April 2010. He now works as a producer under the alias Brattwell Recordings and currently has a solo project under the name Warm Brains.
Hynes currently records under the name Lightspeed Champion
Lightspeed Champion
Devonté Hynes , better known as Lightspeed Champion or Blood Orange, is a British composer, songwriter, producer and author, who has written for artists such as Florence and the Machine, Diana Vickers and The Chemical Brothers on their 2007 Grammy award winning album We Are The Night...
(also signed to Domino Records) and in early 2008 released a successful album entitled 'Falling Off the Lavender Bridge
Falling Off the Lavender Bridge
-Notes:Hynes claims "I Could Have Done This Myself" is "about losing [his] virginity" going on to state, "which is why it's called I Could Have Done This Myself...
'. Hynes has also collaborated with the band Whirlwind Heat
Whirlwind Heat
Whirlwind Heat is a three-piece band from the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although they are avid genre-hoppers, they are often categorized as alternative rock.-History:...
under the name Lightspeed Heat
Lightspeed Heat
Lightspeed Heat is a collaboration between Dev Hynes , also known as Lightspeed Champion, and Chicago three piece Whirlwind Heat.On 26 October 2007 they released a 7" EP consisting of A side "How Do You Do", and B side "In My Dreams"....
. In 2007 they released a 7" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. This, however, was another one off side project.
Mehran is believed to have moved back to America after the split and is claimed to have been spotted working in a record store in New York. It is also believed he is no longer in contact with his former bandmates. Mehran now works in several projects under the alias Sam Meringue. Some include - Matrix Metals, Yoga, Explorers, Blues Runner, Wingdings, Foxy Baby, Outer Limits Recordings & The Sweethearts.
Members
- Rory Attwell (AKA Raary Deci-hells, Raary Rambert RAT ATT AGG, Rory Brattwell) English (Born in London) — guitar and vocals
- Sam Mehran (AKA Sam E Danger, Sam E Slaughter) American (Born in Miami, moved to AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, then to New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before moving to England) — vocals and guitar - Devonte Hynes (AKA Dev Metal, !Ved) English (Born in Houston, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, moved to EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, before moving to EssexEssexEssex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England) — guitar, keyboards and vocals
Session musicians
James FordJames Ford (musician)
James Ford is an English musical composer, record producer and musician.-Biography:Ford was a founding member of the group Simian and currently a member of their spin-off duo Simian Mobile Disco...
— drums
At live shows the members would play along to pre-recorded drum and bass tracks played from an iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
.
The band shared song-writing duties, with most music being written by Attwell and Mehran
Equipment
- Rory Attwell (Guitars - Wilson Bros. Venture VM-75, Fender '72 Deluxe Telecaster)
- Devonte Hynes (Guitars - Squier HH Showmaster (hot pink), Aria II Pro ZZ Deluxe, and in earlier shows, he used a Telecaster copy).
- Sam Mehran (Guitars - Les Paul Deluxe copy, Peavey Raptor)
Amps - All three of the members would switch guitar duties, usually sharing the same amps. They usually used a Peavey
Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
Valveking 1x12, a small Trace Elliot
Trace Elliot
Trace Elliot is a United Kingdom-based bass amplification manufacturer, and has a sub-brand, Trace Acoustic, for acoustic instruments.-History:...
combo, or a Fender Hot Rod deluxe.
Keyboard - Dev used a Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
Microkorg
MicroKORG
The microKORG is a MIDI-capable virtual analog synthesizer/vocoder from Korg featuring high-quality DSP analog modelling. The synth/keyboard is built in such a way that it is essentially a Korg MS-2000 with programmable step arpeggiator , a less advanced vocoder , lack of motion sequencing The...
.
Effects - It is hard to see which effects they used, but one picture shows an Electro Harmonix WORM modulation pedal, which is probably responsible for the ring modulation effect in the song "Boa vs. Python". In an interview they claimed to use the same effects as nu-metal group KoЯn.
Singles and EPs
- "Boa vs. PythonBoa vs. Python (song)"Boa vs. Python" is a song by Test Icicles which was released as the first single from their debut album For Screening Purposes Only. It was released on the 1 August, 2005. The song peaked at #46 in the UK Singles Chart.-CD: Domino / DNO 76 - USA :...
" (1 August 2005) #46 UK - "Circle. Square. TriangleCircle. Square. Triangle"Circle. Square. Triangle" is a song by Test Icicles which was released as the second single from their debut album For Screening Purposes Only on 24 October, 2005...
" (24 October 2005) #25 UK - "What's Your Damage?" (16 January 2006) #31 UK #17 UK indie singles charts
- "Boa vs.Python (Grime Remixes) (27 February 2006)
- "Totally Re-Fucked" (6 March 2006) #133 UK
- "Dig Your Own GraveDig your own graveDig Your Own Grave was a CD/DVD EP released on 23 April 2006 by Test Icicles. It contained a CD of remixes and other previously unreleased material, which was accompanied by a DVD of music videos and live footage from a gig at the LSE in London, in November 2005. The EP was first sold on the band's...
" (24 April 2006)
Charts and certifications
| Year | Song | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
UK Indie Singles Chart UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Boa vs. Python Boa vs. Python (song) "Boa vs. Python" is a song by Test Icicles which was released as the first single from their debut album For Screening Purposes Only. It was released on the 1 August, 2005. The song peaked at #46 in the UK Singles Chart.-CD: Domino / DNO 76 - USA :... " |
#46 | #5 | For Screening Purposes Only For Screening Purposes Only For Screening Purposes Only is the debut album by UK dance-punk trio Test Icicles. After being released in 2005, the album was critically praised for being unique and compelling in an increasingly homogenous indie music scene... |
| "Circle. Square. Triangle Circle. Square. Triangle "Circle. Square. Triangle" is a song by Test Icicles which was released as the second single from their debut album For Screening Purposes Only on 24 October, 2005... " |
#25 | #3 | ||
| 2006 | "What's Your Damage For Screening Purposes Only For Screening Purposes Only is the debut album by UK dance-punk trio Test Icicles. After being released in 2005, the album was critically praised for being unique and compelling in an increasingly homogenous indie music scene... " |
#31 | #9 | |
| "Boa vs. Python (Grime Remixes)" | - | - | Boa vs. Python (Grime Remixes) | |
| "Totally Re-Fucked" | #133 | - | Totally Re-Fucked | |
| "Dig Your Own Grave Dig your own grave Dig Your Own Grave was a CD/DVD EP released on 23 April 2006 by Test Icicles. It contained a CD of remixes and other previously unreleased material, which was accompanied by a DVD of music videos and live footage from a gig at the LSE in London, in November 2005. The EP was first sold on the band's... " |
- | - | Dig Your Own Grave Dig your own grave Dig Your Own Grave was a CD/DVD EP released on 23 April 2006 by Test Icicles. It contained a CD of remixes and other previously unreleased material, which was accompanied by a DVD of music videos and live footage from a gig at the LSE in London, in November 2005. The EP was first sold on the band's... |
Trivia
- The song "Circle. Square. Triangle" has been re-recorded four times, and features in the trailer of the 2007 comedy, Hot RodHot Rod (film)The soundtrack was composed by ex-Yes guitarist, Trevor Rabin. Several songs by the Swedish rock band Europe are in the movie, including "Cherokee" and "Rock the Night." The full trailer contains three Swedish rock band songs, Europe's "Cherokee" and "The Final Countdown," and The Hives' "See...
. - In 2006 they remixed Alkaline TrioAlkaline TrioAlkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
's single 'Burn' from the album CrimsonCrimson (Alkaline Trio album)Crimson is the fifth album by Alkaline Trio, released May 23, 2005. The record is produced by Jerry Finn.A 'Deluxe Edition' was released on November 28, 2005. The first disc contains the original album, while the added second disc features the album as demos, home demos and acoustic songs...
. The track appears on the CD single.
External links
- Farewell gig review on Sound Generator
- Coverage in NME
- "Band of the Day: Test Icicles", Spin, 2 November 2005
- Interview on XFM
Videos
- YouTube - Circle Square Triangle music video
- YouTube - What's Your Damage music video
- YouTube - TEST ICICLES Circle Triangle Square Live at LSE 2005
- YouTube - TEST ICICLES Catch It Live at LSE 2005
- YouTube - TEST ICICLES Your Biggest Mistake Live at LSE 2005
- YouTube - TEST ICICLES Boa vs Python Live at LSE 2005
- YouTube - TEST ICICLES Dancing On Pegs Live at LSE 2005
- PUNKCAST #836 - video of Test Icicles' first U.S. show at Sin-éSin-éSin-é was the name of a music venue in New York City which helped launch the careers of several noted musicians in the early 1990s.-Original café:...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, on 15 September 2005 - YouTube - Test Icicles' mock performance on a German TV station
- BBC - Test Icicles session video and interview
- 3voor12 - Boa vs. Python live at London Calling
- YouTube demon(sic) Insanity Problem music video