Releases

Artists: Test Pressing / October Man
BOLT024: The Tandem Series 1
Release date: 27th January 2006
Format: CD and Digital

Description

The first in a series of split CD releases on Boltfish Recordings, showcasing tracks from two like-minded artists. The first in the series presents Test Pressing and October Man.

THIS RELEASE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE BOLTFISH CATALOGUE ON CD. HOWEVER, YOU CAN STILL PURCHASE IT VIA DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM A RANGE OF ONLINE RETAILERS.

Tracklisting:

Artist 1: Test Pressing
1 Veselo
2 Dinonoke
3 Sad stream which is going to become the river
4 Leaving home
Artist 2: October Man
5 Let's go out
6 Ointment
7 False
8 Somewhere to stay
9 Things to remember

All tracks © The artists/Boltfish Recordings 2005/6

Reviews

Electronic Desert - 26/02/06
"Another new signing for Boltfish that goes by the name: Test Pressing. On what looks like a new series of split releases aptly entitled "The Tandem Series". The concept is simple enough two artists co-habiting the same release. Test Pressing starts off the portion of the musical contributions devoted to him with the happy sounding "Veslo", with straight forward beats, Japanese vocal samples and playfulness and it gets better as the track count progresses. "Dinonoke" is more composed and has an excellent intro, the beat is dry and 4-4 based - yet bouncy and forward moving, then follow the classic take on melody, uncomplicated and very effective in a Housie way. "Sad Stream Which Is Going To Become The River" is not only a good and very good title for any song it is also the piece the resistance of Test Pressing’s input, simply put a masterful track! The glitchy intro that doesn’t give anything away, the beats that are so well put together, the well-balanced vocal sample and arrangements, the melody, and their painful beautifulness and the track’s metamorphosis when the contra posing elements (literally) break and end the track commanding an instant replay. This track is a perfect example of the middle-earth that "Electronica" constitutes (to my mind anyhow), very beautiful, if you posses dancing ability do it, otherwise all you have to do is listen… Ending the four-track contribution is "Leaving Home" a lullaby sounding sweet track. Test Pressing is a delightful encounter indeed! The other artist contributing to this split is October Man, far from being a stranger in Boltfish contexts and proud record label owner at that. October Man first offering is "Let’s Go Out" featuring lush treated vocals and feather-light beats. Picking up the pace in "Oinment", but not striving to far from familiar grounds, strings and solid melody fused with an evident beat. "False" "Somewhere To Stay" and "Things to Remember" features more of October Man’s craftsmanship, well-constructed melodies and understated beats. It’s BOLT024 and you know you should investigate."

Tesselate - 18/01/06
"The Tandem: Series one is a striking release. From the computerized jump powerup stories of Test Pressing (who I can’t wait to hear more of), through to the universe wide fables of October Man, this is one release which has you captured from the very first track."

"Rich blip stargazing, that you can’t say no to. Recommended stuff." Read the whole review

Leonard's Lair - 13/01/06
"The idea behind Boltfish Recordings' Tandem series is simple: release material from two electronica artists and combine in on to a single CD. Naturally, the success of this venture depends on whether the two featured acts complement each other. In the case of Russian musician Pavel Malamanov AKA Test Pressing and Durham duo October Man, they're certainly different but it's highly likely if you like one then you'll like the other too. Rather bizarrely, the first Test Pressing track is made up of seemingly relentless bleeping; it's melodic but in an almost teeth-grindingly childish way. Thankfully it's unrepresentative of Malamanov's other tracks which exhibit tunes of a much more chilled-out variety. October Man - who intriguingly claim to be inspired by the early works of Baby Bird - reveal a mastery of autumnal melancholia; reaching a moving, pastorally-flavoured peak on 'Let's Go Out' whilst 'Somewhere To Stay' captures the nostalgic, eerie essence of Boards Of Canada. More than anything, 'Tandem 1' is a useful primer for further investigation into both acts."

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