What?!! No Test Department thread?!?

update: this is my favorite release of theirs since Gododdin. thanks for the revive!

wow the book (Total State Machine) is incredible. 368 pages, full color, tons of dense text, diary entries, reviews, flyers, essays, so much to dig into.

it's epic.

reminds me that the accompanying reissue program never saw the light of day -

to mark this occasion beyond the book itself, the band re-issue ‘Shoulder To Shoulder’ (1985), the second in a series of re-releases, partnering the book, published in June by PC-Press, the first being the 12” ‘Tested Product’ for Record Store Day, in new and adapted artworks, also through PC-Press. This special red vinyl edition paves the way for more back catalogue action late October 2015, namely both 6 x CD & 6 x vinyl box sets.

‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ encapsulates the tour organised by Test Dept in support of the Miners Strike in 1984/85 and features a choir of South Wales miners, brought together by the group for a one off concert in London. Such was the bond formed on that occasion; it led to a nationwide tour, a landmark meeting and lasting memory of music, solidarity and political struggle. As such it can be viewed as an important historical document.

omg how did I miss this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3pgSF70iIs

i guess this is as good a place as any to post this. there is an oral history of Some Bizarre just out that is most excellent -

http://jawbonepress.com/conform-to-deform/