Test Dept "Proven in Action" Invisible Records INV083CD (38:45)
Jerusalem (2:17)
Siege (of Quebec) (5:15)
Agincourt (2:43)
Empire (7:23)
Territory (3:48)
Wojna (War) (6:54)
The Emigrant (4:27)
Vastness (5:58)
Overall impression: so-so. "Proven.." is a domestic re-issue of a recording of Test Dept's live show at New Music America Montreal Musiques Actuelles in November of 1990. The set is comprised of Test Dept's earlier, more primal and industrial material which focuses on massive amounts of percussion, bagpipes, horns, orchestral arrangements and political ranting and raving reminiscent of Laibach. I prefer the instrumental or mostly instrumental tracks (Jerusalem, Siege, Vastness) ... the testosterone fueled vocals are just too over the top and difficult to follow/understand for me to get into. The percussion and pipes are amazing throughout though, and the live sound is adequate but a bit distant. "Proven.." is a far cry from the generic electronic dance music Test Dept is putting out these days (see also "Tactics for Evolution"), and not quite as cool as the live material of more recent years (see also "Drug Test One") ...
Test Dept
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Where did I get this cd? - borrowed it from a local library for 2 weeks.