About
Minimal synth based, Negative Response materialised in September 1980 from the ashes of short lived Croydon punk band, The Two an' Eights. Inspired by the DIY punk ethic, the project acquired some of the more affordable analogue electronic equipment that began to emerge in the early 80’s, including a Roland Dr Rhythm drum machine, Wasp and a 4 track cassette machine to record its output on.
Negative Response released its début cassette album, a collection of self penned tracks, "Is It True!" in August 1981 on the home-grown Negative Products label. This was followed in August 1982 by the 9 song, "One Day" cassette album which quickly sold over 100 copies worldwide. December I983 saw the release of a 3rd cassette album, "Shapes of Things to Come".
Negative Response appeared on several compilation cassettes during this period. The most high profile track was “Utopia” which appeared on Dorking label’s Underground Music Various Artists Volume 1 and also featured Anne Clark. Other Negative Response tracks appeared on cassette releases by underground fanzines “Instil the Beat” and “4 Minute Warning”.
Negative Response played a dozen gigs between 1982 and 1985. Live shows used backing tapes augmented with vocals, synths, melodica and percussion and a customised black and white slide projection show.
Since 2016 Negative Response was invited to supply tracks to the Bedroom Cassette Masters series and to Medical Records and Manufactured Desire Records for further retrospective vinyl releases. Cover versions have appeared in volumes 5 and 6 of Defsynth.Com's annual Halloween Masquerade.
Negative Response has also begun to make the odd live appearance, most often at the monthly Electronic Music Open Mic (EMOM) nights in London's. A new track appeared on a collection of songs by EMOM artists on the You Might Not Like this imprint.
Negative Response has featured on Defsynths annual Halloween Masquerade collection by providing alternative electronic versions of "Fast Cars", "Identity" 2The In Crowd" and "In Heaven".
In 2020 Negative Response also appeared on the Pete Shelley songs covers album "Yesterday's Not Here" with "Fiction Romance" issued by Not Murdered Records, in aid of the Peter Shelley Memorial Campaign. https://notmurderedrecords.bandcamp.com/track/fiction-romance