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Test Card Girl

Manchester’s most ethereal synth-folk artist, Test Card Girl, is transcendent in her latest single, Fly

Posted on 2 March 2022

From the definitive home of UK indie, the Manchester-based synth-folk artist, Test Card Girl, is here with their intricately alternative Kraftwerk-inspired single, Fly.

Her choral folk vocals float into the slightly Avant-Garde, endlessly ethereal electronica progressions as the lyrics navigate the stir craziness that lockdown stirred inside all of us. In their own words, “It is a rallying cry to stand up and walk to nowhere”, inspired in part by the colliery bands in British mining towns.

With Seadna McPhail (Airtight Studios) on production and the I am Kloot drummer, Andy Hargreaves, responsible for production, this Arts Council-funded single was worth every penny. There really is no understating how much its gentle gravitas cuts straight to the core of frustration while exploring art in the context of desolation.

Fly, the second single from Test Card Girl’s debut EP, was released on February 25th. You can hear it for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud, Spotify and Bandcamp.

Keep up to date with new releases from Test Card Girl by following on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

It Will Hurt More: Manchester electro-pop artist Test Card Girl reminds us to avoid going back to the pain on ‘Don’t Go’

Posted on 10 April 2021

As she energetically starts her cozy car and thinks about turning back to the incredible times that sadly moved swiftly to heartbreak, Test Card Girl stays strong and remembers that she is on the new path now with her quality new third single called ‘Don’t Go‘.

Test Card Girl is a terrifically unexpected solo project by the wonderful Manchester, UK lofi synth-folk singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis, who ditched the dull office life and now makes music to help us all realize that life is too short for regrets.

After recently being awarded a much-cherished Arts Council England grant to write and release her first EP, her career has skyrocketed upwards and you can hear why so many love her authentic nature that sits satisfyingly in your happy stomach.

”Combining elements of synth pop with a simple folk playground melody, this is a summer song inviting you to get up and dance away bad times and regrets accompanied by an imaginary band of synthesised players”.-Test Card Girl

This is the story of not going back, no matter what the magnetic pull says or does to your beating heart. You left for a reason and despite it being easy to go back, you are telling yourself to have the strength to overcome this lust to go again. Instead, the new plan should be to look for a new road that will make you truly happy, inside your deepest feelings of content.

‘Don’t Go‘ from the fast-rising Manchester electro-pop artist Test Card Girl, is a stunning array of synth-filled soundscapes that washes all over your mind to give you a feeling of relief, that you made the right decision to avoid heartbreak part two. Trusting that gut is always a good idea, even if your heart wants something different sometimes.

Stream this lovely new single on Soundcloud and check out the IG for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Test Card Girl shines on synth-pop treasure ‘Holds Me Down’

Posted on 18 September 2020

A fantastic mesh of indie, folk, synth and soul all wrapped up in a cute bow by Test Card Girl on ‘Holds Me Down’.

Test Card Girl is a solo project by Manchester singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis who started unexpectedly writing songs in 2019 aged 35. Bored of an admin-based existence, Catherine set off on a song-writing journey into all corners of her mind, simultaneously becoming a stand-up comedian touring the country with a novelty miniature keyboard. In late 2019 she began working with producer Dave Fidler on upcoming debut album ‘Seven Dolls‘ and featured on Tom Robinson’s’ Fresh On the Net ‘Fresh Faves’ list in June 2020. She takes her name from the iconic image of the girl and clown used on UK television to signal the end of evening broadcasting – a girl trapped in a technicolor world of screens and machines.

‘Holds Me Down‘ is an optimistic lofi Indiepop love song stacking folk harmonies over retro 80’s/90’s synthesizers. Test Card Girl draws on the musical giants of her Manchester heritage echoing the punchy synths of New Order and the confessional songwriting of Guy Garvey and John Bramwell.

A tale of love loss and gained here. On one hand you have lost some love as they tried to wrap you up in a box and keep you confined. On the other, you have learnt something and will perhaps love yourself more?

Manchester’s Test Card Girl is rather splendid here and ‘Holds Me Down’ is a terrific track that hits the highs and there are no lows here. What a talent and we are so happy that she is no longer stuck behind a desk.

Click here for the stream link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen