Test Icicles

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Test Icicles

Background information
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Indie Rock
Post Hardcore
Noise Rock
Art punk
Years active 2004–2006
Label(s) Domino Records
Associated acts Lightspeed Champion
Semifinalists
Website Official website
Members
Rory Attwell (Raaary Decihells)
Sam Mehran (Sam E Danger)
Devonte Hynes (!Ved)

Test Icicles were a short-lived rock band 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. They were later joined by Devonte Hynes, who was originally invited to fill in at a performance in Brighton, England and afterward became a permanent member of the band. Hynes has since formed Lightspeed Champion.

Contents

[edit] History

Test Icicles performed a series of club shows with bands like The Unicorns, before signing to veteran UK indie label Domino Records; their debut single, "Boa vs. Python", was critically praised — though it had initially been rejected by Domino as being 'not commercial enough'. The label, which, according to the NME, signed the band unseen, had been anticipating a sound similar to that of the then Franz Ferdinand-dominated scene, and the jagged, fuzzy noise of Test Icicles' post-punk had come as a shock. Test Icicles used MySpace as a key way of gaining fans and getting their music heard.

One uncommon factor about the band was that each had several songs where they would sing and the other two would play on guitar to pre-recorded bass and drum tracks (using an iPod).

According to the label, the name "Test Icicles" is derived not from the word testicles but rather from an alleged practice of early man involving the "testing" of icicles for their strength and fitness for use as weapons. This, however, is extremely debatable considering the fact that a previous side project of band members Sam and Rory was named "Balls".

The group met each other in various London indie night clubs such as Trash, White Heat and After Skool Klub. They would frequently see each other but they never talked. Mehran was originally in shortlived lo-fi punk group INTENSEDUDES with Ferry Gouw and Chris Steele-Nicholson of the Semifinalists, Tim Sullivan of Damn Arms and Tom Vek as well as being in numerous Myspace-based acts with Hynes, including NLS Crew, Demon(sic), Wack Brothers and Manpower. Mehran and Gouw then formed a band known as Balls with Attwell (formerly of noise act Si n O The East). Ferry was going home for summer, when they realised Balls had been booked to play with The Unicorns. Not wanting to cancel the gig, the pair decided to form a Balls sister-band called Test Icicles, which is when Hynes (who at the time also provided vocals for post-hardcore outfit The Red In Sophie Loren) was recruited to join. In early 2005, the three moved to a first-floor flat in Dalston where they recorded a large amount of demos. After many attempts they were signed by Domino Records, and they went to France where they recorded songs for the album.

Following the release of their 2005 album, For Screening Purposes Only, the band toured the United States with Art Brut before returning to Europe for additional performances.

In 2006, they remixed Alkaline Trio's single 'Burn' from the album Crimson. The track appears on the CD single.

[edit] Split

In February 2006, the band announced they were splitting up.[1] 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."

[edit] Work Post-Test Icicles

After the demise of the band, the group continued to stay active, claiming to be variously involved in over twenty side projects among them. Hynes and Mehran participate in a glam metal–hip hop fusion project, NLS Crew; Attwell is a member of several other bands including Lock Horns and Dogger, and RAT:ATT:AGG, later known as 'Wrists', which features members of the band Bullet Union. The band announced their official split on 30th November 2007, and offered fans free downloads of their songs. They provided remixes for bands such as Fake Shark - Real Zombie! and The Kills(Rory's remix). Rory went on to drum in the group KASMs with his girlfriend and two other members are in the band Tropics.

Hynes also went on to form a new project involved with members from the band Semifinalists and the solo artist Tom Vek to create the band Naked Babes. The band have now 'unofficially' split, much like their old short-lasting bands (pre-Test Icicles). He now works under the name Lightspeed Champion and released his first album "Falling Off the Lavender Bridge", in January 2008. The album features the singles "Galaxy of the Lost", "Midnight Surprise" and "Tell Me What It's Worth". He has also collaborated with Whirlwind Heat under the name Lightspeed Heat. In 2007, they released a 7" EP, however this was a one off side project.

Mehran moved to America after the split and was recently spotted working in a record store in New York. It is believed he is no longer in contact with his former bandmates.

Hynes has recently done a recording with Jack R in Ireland to critical praise. The song is called 'Never Meant To Hurt You' and is a cover of the popular Good Shoes song. The song features on a CD that accompanied the release of his album "Falling Off the Lavender Bridge". Other covers featured include: 'Souvenirs' (Patrick Wolf), 'Flesh Failures' (from the musical Hair) and 'Xanadu' (Olivia Newton John).

Other information: the test icicles writing credits were as follows: Sam 51% Rory 32% Dev 17% (NME, May 2005)

[edit] Personnel

  • Rory Attwell (Raary Deci-hells, Raary Rambert RAT ATT AGG) English (Born in London) — guitar, vocals
  • Sam Mehran (Sam E Danger, Sam E Slaughter) American (Born in Miami moved and then lived in Adelaide, Australia, then New York, then moved to England) — vocals, guitar
  • Devonte Hynes (Dev Metal, !Ved) American (Born in Houston, Texas moved to Edinburgh before living in Essex, England) — guitar, keyboards, vocals

[edit] Equipment

  • Rory Attwell (Guitars - Wilson Bros. Venture VM-75, Fender '72 Deluxe Telecaster)
  • Devonte Hynes (Guitars - Squire 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 switch off on guitar duties, usually sharing the same amps. usually using a Peavey Valveking 1x12, a small Trace Elliot combo, or Fender Hot Rod deluxe.

Keyboard - Korg Microkorg.

Effects - it is hard to see the effects Test Icicles use, but one picture shows an Electro Harmonix WORM modulation pedal, which is most likely responsible for the ring modulation effect in the song "Boa Vs. Python". They also claimed to use the same effects as nu-metal group KoЯn in an interview.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Demos

  • 4 Track Demo (July 2004)

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Singles

[edit] Trivia

  • The song "Circle. Square. Triangle" has been re-recorded four times, and features in the trailer of the 2007 comedy, Hot Rod.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Test Icicles split | News | NME.COM
  2. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Chart

[edit] External links

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