Testpattern – Après-Midi
Testpattern – Après-Midi
Japan Original Pressing.
A visionary 1982 electronic pop miniature — weightless synths, Linn rhythms and strange tropical elegance floating somewhere between techno-pop, ambient and a future version of lounge music.
Après-Midi was the only album by Testpattern, the duo of graphic designers Masao Hiruma and Fumio Ichimura, produced by Haruomi Hosono for YEN Records. Almost entirely constructed by Hiruma with Roland, Korg, Prophet, Emulator and Linn electronics, it feels less like conventional synth-pop than a perfectly designed miniature world.
“Crescent Moon” drifts through cool, suspended electronics, “Sea Breeze” turns artificial tropical atmosphere into something strangely beautiful, while “Ring Dance” and “Ocean Liner” move into hypnotic instrumental territory where minimal rhythm, melody and tiny electronic details continually shift around each other.
What makes Après-Midi so fascinating today is how little it seems trapped in 1982. Its combination of homemade electronics, ambient space, playful pop and immaculate design anticipates sounds that would much later be called electronica, neo-lounge or ambient pop.
Bright, artificial, elegant and quietly experimental — one of the most singular records to emerge from the YEN universe.
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About the Condition
About the Condition
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| S (Sealed) | Still sealed in factory wrap. Never played. |
| M (Mint) | Perfect condition. Looks unplayed with no signs of use. Typically used for records that are brand new or opened but never played. |
| EX (Excellent) | Very clean. May have light scuffs or hairline marks, but plays perfectly. |
| VG+ (Very Good Plus) | Minor wear, light surface noise, no major flaws — a solid average used copy. |
| VG (Very Good) | Visible wear and surface noise. Plays through without skipping. |
| G+ (Good Plus) | Heavily used. Significant wear or scratches, but still playable. |
+ / − may be added to indicate slight variations (e.g. VG+, EX−).
We visually inspect every record, and we clean each one before shipping (play-testing when needed). Even new or great-looking vinyl—especially some Japanese pressings—can have light background noise. We grade carefully by eye and ear, but it’s still a human call, so please check the notes before buying.
Shipping & Packing
Shipping & Packing
Tokyo-based. Ships worldwide (DHL/Japan Post).
Professionally packed with care. Fast dispatch.
Strict grading. Actual photos of the item.
