The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Teste. "The Long Term Care Facility" is a track off the duo's new EP, The Box Man, out June 18 on Berlin's BITE. This marks the project's first release in roughly 25 years after pioneering the modern techno and industrial sound in the early 90's. When we heard about the new EP, we immediately wanted to speak with David Foster (aka Huren), co-founder of Teste, about the return, the new lineup (with Martin Maischein) and what to expect now. Read the interview below.
The Brvtalist: Let's just start at the beginning. Teste released some truly groundbreaking material in the early 90's. I would love to hear about the formation of the project/sound and then a little bit about its disappearance soon after.
Teste (David Foster): Well the main thing to keep in mind NO ACCURATE ACCOUNT of Teste exists on the internet or in the minds of the participant. SO this may or may not contribute to the situation.
Also at this juncture I must ask ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AFFILIATED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT?
If you have suddenly been unleashed into the world after rehab or psychotherapy you are a prime candidate to perform in Teste. Generally people that meet this criteria are in the ranks past and present. Later on in life I learned there was a term for it MUSIQUE BRUT but why spell shit out for people?
I met one of the members who I am sure would prefer to remain nameless when he got out of the asylum as he had been stalking me at the record shop I worked at. When he accosted me outside on the street - I was like you have a fuckin 909 lets get it hooked up with some of my synths …
TB: Even after Teste disappeared, the sound continued to live on and influence others. Now 25 years later you're back. What made it feel like the right time? Have you toyed with the idea of a return before now?
T: Well I’m getting on now and this project seems like it’s still of interest to people. Which means a lot in this climate. Plus it’s fun to stay in fancy hotels! Looking to get a spoon collection going this summer…
As for trying to revive it during the previous decades, well it was probably cursed which seems to have been lifted!
TB: Talk about the new lineup which includes Martin Maischein. How did you guys meet and what made it feel like a collaboration worthy of reviving the Teste moniker?
T: Meeting Martin was a chance introduction through Rich Oddie (whom I collaborate with in O/H) when Orphx was in Berlin last year. We met at a very fitting moment - May Day in Kotti. We got on well and he even initiated to meet up for lunch and drinks several times afterwards. I discovered things about his past which lead me to believe this would work out in an unexpectedly effective manner! He decided to tear down his studio recently so we seldom see each other… probably why we’re still working together.
TB: The Box Man comes out on the new Berlin-based label BITE run by Hayden Payne and Florian Engerling. Love the variety of sounds in there from crushers like The Long Term Care Facility (great title too) to the more emotive, slightly cinematic, Lyubov. Talk about some of the concepts behind the record and what you guys wanted to do with this first EP.
T: Well I had been in discussions with Florian who designed the cover as I had recently developed renewed interest in the occult and he assured me the strange coincidences I was experiencing were just the primitive parts of the brain re-wiring. He was envisioning chainsaws in this exhibit he’d seen which then triggered the flashback of how important the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was to my lifestyle choices!
The Box Man is a reflection of my morbid outlook- coincidentally named after the book by Kōbō Abe. The Long Term Care Facility in a way is more personal - I envision my mother’s corpse when she passed away in one of those very facilities. The feeling of finality and crushing loss and utter futility of existence once one ’s life is reduced to belongings to donate to charity shops. Always great themes for raves!
Lyubov was a last minute addition as I had been listening to one of my ex- band mates’ solo projects Ambsace whom I played in with the Jay Holy band back in Toronto. I thought this has melody in it, THE LAST THING one would ever expect from the likes of me!
TB: Teste is set to return to the live stage in London and then again in Berlin. Can we expect more live sets? Releases? What would you like to see in the future? (feel free to include any closing comments as well)
T: TESTE 2018 IS———VERY NEGΛTIVE.DEPRESSiVE TECHNOiD SLOP iN THE ATTENTiON ECONOMY
DiSMAL ELECTRONiCS FOR THE SHORT TERM SOCIAL VALiDATiON FEEDBACK LOOP
AS of this interview we successfully performed at Kaos London and by all accounts was a resounding success. AS A FINAL NOTE WE PERFORM AT ARMA X This weekend…