A fixture of test plan’s live set for almost three years, “Signal” hits the spot between dark goth-disco, techno and distorted noise-rock.
Born out of a rehearsal room jam in 2023, ‘Signal’ has undergone countless transformations, moving between the rehearsal room and the stage and back, going through a long period of growing pains before finally taking shape.
Originally dubbed ‘Techno Jam’, the song centers around a repetitive bassline that brings together test plan’s dance music mentality and noise-rock songwriting. Rory Dickinson’s thick bass keeps the track in constant motion, turning to blown-out distortion, whilst Mihalis Fragkiadakis’ guitar shifts from shimmering disco riffs to jagged chords and high-pitched squeals in the chorus. Max Mason’s pounding drums give the track a powerful backbone as his vocals grow increasingly enraged towards the final scream of “Give me a second, give me a second!” Beneath the track’s intensity, Mason’s detached and frustrated lyrics carry an ambiguous emotional undercurrent, adding a sense of tension to the song’s immediate urgency. “Some songs come easy but some are the product of long scrutiny and reflection,”
says Mason. “Signal’s dense structure, tight melodic refrains and focused performances are the by-product of this scrutiny and tinge the track with a sense of dread.”
Recorded and produced by Darren Jones (Fat Dog, Gorillaz) at Livingston Studios and the band’s own north London rehearsal space, “Signal” will feature on an upcoming EP alongside their previous single “Gone”, due for release in 2027. The single also arrives just days before the band head to Armenia and Georgia, followed by further dates across France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal throughout November.
As with all test plan releases, the music video was directed and edited by Mason, continuing the band’s DIY ethos. Filmed in the empty swimming pool of a disused east London leisure center-turned-squat, the video cuts between close-ups, wide shots and handheld footage of the band dancing, running around and moving unpredictably around the space.
Dickinson says: “I’d had the idea long before we had a song to make it for. The original concept was a performance video where we’d swap places every time the camera rotated.” The camera, operated by Melody Wayfare, spins continuously, with the band changing positions between shots, while the editing makes the video appear as one continuous take. The result is a high-energy, disorientating performance video that captures the spirit of test plan’s live shows. Dickinson adds “Once we found the huge swimming pool, it became less about sticking to the original idea and more about what we could do practically with the location and using its depth instead.” It marks test plan’s first music video built around a live
performance, bringing a new approach to the surrealist visuals of their previous releases, offering a glimpse of the band performing as if on stage.
“Signal” is released digitally and as a music video on Tuesday 3rd November.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
07/11 – ToneLab, Yerevan (Armenia)
08/11 – Revolution, Tbilisi (Georgia)
20/11 – Le Trois Pièces, Rouen (France)
21/11 – Rockerill, Charleroi (Belgium)
23/11 – La Binchoise, Binche (Belgium)
24/11 – BarBroos, Ghent (Belgium)
25/11 – V11, Rotterdam (Netherlands)
28/11 – Auditório CCOP, Porto (Portugal)
12.12 – The Garibaldi, Northampton (UK)
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to Rory of test plan!]
