Beating the Retreat

by Test Dept.

Beating the Retreat cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Some Bizzare
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 40:35
  • Community rating: 3.57/5 from 2 ratings

Artists on this release: Trigger, Audrey Riley, Genesis P-Orridge, Ken Thomas, Fiona Thompson

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Forged in the decaying urban landscape of South London, this uncompromising debut epitomizes the physical, sheet-metal bashing wing of the early industrial movement. The collective utilized salvaged scrap metal and heavy machinery to create dense, polyrhythmic onslaughts that served as a direct socialist critique of Thatcher's industrial policies. The resulting sonic assault is as much a political rally as it is a musical recording.

Genres

Descriptors: rhythmic, sampling, atmospheric, political

Tracklist

  1. The Fall From Light (4:31)
  2. Kick To Kill (6:11)
  3. Total State Machine (5:53)
  4. Plastic (4:48)
  5. Inheritance (3:42)
  6. Cold Witness (7:05)
  7. Sweet Sedation (4:11)
  8. Spring Into Action (4:14)

Credits

  • Paul White - graphics
  • Tony Cousins - lacquer cut by [determined cutting]
  • "Bert" Turnbull - other [visuals]
  • Jack Balchin - performer [sound]
  • Paul Hines - tape
  • Audrey Riley - cello
  • F.M. Einheit - performer [scrapes], tape
  • Fiona Thompson - harp

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