Testube is a solo electronic music project from the United States of America, founded in 1994 by Jeff Danos (Born 9 May 1976). His music spans multiple sub-genres of electronic music, including Industrial, Glitch, Experimental, IDM, Electroclash, Darkwave, Ambient, Synthpop and EBM.[Ref 1][Ref 2]
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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]
Reconstructive Surgery, an album of Testube songs remixed by Mr. 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]
Australian journal Blatant Propaganda praised Testube's Bioplaza album for its "gothic-medieval melodies and dreamy electronic-body-music." [Ref 6] Chain DLK 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]
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]
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.
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]
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).
Below is a partial Testube discography
| Release Title | Artist | Records Label | Format(s) | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off Purpose | Testube | Glim Records | CD, digital download | May 2010 [Ref 12] | |
| Treatments | Various Artists | Glim Records | CD | Sep 2009 | |
| Covert | Testube | Glim Records | CD | Jul 2008 | |
| Refraction | Testube | ClandestCINE Films | 35mm, DVD | Oct 2007 | short film |
| Sleeping Pills | Jeff Danos | Kinotonik Pictures | 35mm, DVD | Dec 2003 | feature film |
| Corporation | Testube | DSBP Records | CD | Sep 2003 | |
| Bioplaza Revisited | Testube | DSBP Records | CD | Nov 2000 | |
| Daisypusher EP | Marble I/Orchard | MP3.com | CD, digital download | Aug 2000 | |
| Carry Me (Testube remix) | Leæther Strip | Metropolis Records | CD Single | May 2000 | remix |
| Carry Me (Testube remix) | Leæther Strip | Bloodline Records | CD Single | Mar 2000 | remix |
| Reconstructive Surgery | Testube | DSBP Records | CD | May 2000 | reached #4 on CMJ RPM chart |
| Bioplaza | Testube | Self Released | CD | May 1999 | |
| Circuit Noir Vol. 2 | Various Artists | UEF Records | CD | Feb 1999 | |
| Vertigo Grim | Testube | UEF Records | CD-R | Sep 1998 | |
| Preyer | Testube | Promo | CD-R | Apr 1998 | Promo Only |
| Circuit Noir Vol. 1 | Various Artists | UEF Records | CD | Feb 1998 | |
| Post-Apocalypse | Testube | UEF Records | CD-R | Feb 1998 | |
| Usable Frequency Response | Testube | UEF Records | CD-R, MiniDisc, Cassette | Jul 1997 | |
| Second Soul | Testube | UEF Records | CD-R, MiniDisc, Cassette | Apr 1997 | |
| Soul | Danos | Promo | Cassette | Nov 1996 | Promo Only |