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Rory Atwell

Test Icicles
Origin London, England
Genres Dance-punk, post-hardcore, indie rock
Years active 2004–2006
Labels Domino
Associated acts Lightspeed Champion
Blood Orange

Warm Brains
KASMs
RAT:ATT:AGG
Semifinalists
Outer Limits Recordings
Website www.myspace.com/testicicles
Past members Sam Mehran
Rory Attwell
Devonte Hynes

Test Icicles were a short-lived dance-punk band that formed in England, primarily influenced by indie rock but containing musical elements from a variety of genres (notably hip hop, crossover thrash and punk). The band was formed in 2004 by Rory Attwell and Sam Mehran, who were later joined by Devonte Hynes. Hynes and Mehran were both 18 years old at the time of the band's inception. The group has since become notable due to the later success of its members.

Prior to forming the band, Atwell, Hynes and Mehran (all of whom shared vocal and guitar duties) had met each other through mutual friends. The trio's preference for the same nightspots (such as the Afterskool night club, in London) also led to frequent meet-ups. Initially the band formed under the moniker 'Balls' with Ferry Gouw, who shortly after went on the form Semifinalists, effectively in the role Hynes eventually filled. Gouw left the band for an extended trip to Indonesia at which time Attwell and Mehran recruited Hynes and changed the band name to Test Icicles, the new band name also being a suggestion from Gouw. All three members of the group were involved in numerous, short-lived musical projects before the forming of Test Icicles; some of these taking shape only as songs posted on various Myspace music profiles (such as Mehran's DANGEROUSDUDE output). Hynes and Mehran continued this trend throughout the existence of Test Icicles with the NLS Crew, a collective founded by the pair and whose most prominent output was a remix of Death from Above 1979's "Black History Month" single (which is available on DFA 1979's Romance Bloody Romance).

According to the NME, Domino had signed Test Icicles near sight-unseen. This probably explains the label's surprise and suggested re-working of initial album material completed by the band. In 2005 the group went to France with Simian Mobile Disco producer James Ford to record their debut album For Screening Purposes Only.


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