Negative Response

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Negative Response

Minimal synth based, Negative Response formed in1980. Three cassette albums issued during 1981-84 & most tracks are now reissued.

Brand new album out in 2021 called "Submersion Therapy". Double vinyl album "A Blur in the Distance" issued in March 2023. 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 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. Shows included the Croydon Warehouse curated by Anne Clark. Fast forward to 2016 and Negative Response was approached by several labels to release this older material. This resulted in the issue of the limited-edition cassette “Ectopic Beat” and lathe cut vinyl “Reunion” from Barcelona based Manufactured Desire Records and the 300-issue vinyl “Oblique Angles” from Seattle’s Medical Records. Negative Response began writing some new tracks and began to attend the London based electronic music open mic nights. This resulted in a version of the track “’Til It’s Over” being included in Volume 2 of the You Might Not Like collection. "Artificial" also appears on a sampler by Surrey label Trial N Error Records. Negative Response cover versions have also appeared on several Defsynth compilations and Negative Response supported the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign in 2020 with an all-electro makeover of “Fiction Romance” which appeared as part of the “Yesterday’s Not Here” fundraiser. The collection of 9 songs that make up “Submersion Therapy” are the first original tracks from Negative Response since 1983. This collection uses many of the methods used in previous recordings, mainly secondhand recording equipment and synths. This album has been made using a Boss BR8 zip file recorder. This is very much a DIY affair with covers, inserts and labels being homemade. The album has been mixed by Gary Meek (ex D:Ream) and mastered by Paul Morrice at Tilted Audio. A new retrospective containing 17 tracks from "Reunion" and "Ectopic Beat" and 6 cover versions will be issued as a double vinyl album on the Minimalkombinat label later in 2022. Live shows are also being performed when available.

12/07/2025

Played a short 6 track set at the Bird in Hand pub in Forest Hill lady night. Thanks to the The Film Atelier for the recording and posting on YouTube. The tracks are In Heaven (Everything is Fine) and Drifting. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehu-jL9rJDI&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD&fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLfXSdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp9IZc2QdlhIj0oZeKUSguvVEbH0LvmkkJXsJMHHOtqdsoiGK0DTRJELJjDQ4_aem_GFD1fL2PZOEcXoiOD9iy8A

Electronic Music Artist - Negative Response performs live 's SE23 best open mic live!Music/Words/Performance by Artist: Negative ResponseSound: Matt...

30/05/2025

A pic from my short live set at the Paxton Centre,Crystal Palace from two weeks ago. Great fun and an enthusiastic audience. An entertaining mix of musicians, poets and comedians.

19/03/2025

Live, live, live.

29/12/2024

Thanks to Will Farr of Signal Committee for taking the time and effort to pull together this 57 track nearly 2hours of Eclectic music from submissions to . Take a listen there bound t o be something that takes your fancy. https://on.soundcloud.com/rK3zfZmCKz7ExhXA8

02/12/2024

Another short clip from the show at the Front Room in Croydon last week. This one from "Dancing on the Head of a Pin" from the "Submersion Therapy" album. Currated by Trust The Doc

01/12/2024

A short clip from the show on Thursday hosted by Trust The Doc in

24/11/2024

Last time out. Next show on Thursday in Croydon at the Front Room. https://trust-the-doc-media.eventcube.io/events/68489/linking-up-at-the-front-room-croydon/.

20/11/2024

Fast on the heels of our Dash The Henge Store gig last week, delighted to be back at The Front Room in on Thursday 28 November. Playing alongside With Sun and Alex Laertis . Curated by Trust The Doc . Tickets £8 in advance https://trust-the-doc-media.eventcube.io/events/68489/linking-up-at-the-front-room-croydon/.

11/11/2024

Negative Response will be playing a live set at Dash The Henge Store in Camberwell on Saturday 16th November at 3pm. Come on down it's a free one!

20/10/2024

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mD8epZfZCwE

A brilliantly unique performance from Steve Smith AKA Negative response. The video incorporates Steve's very own visuals we showed throughout the performanc...

02/10/2024

The Acoustic Couch EMOM - Electronic Music Open Mic
Sunday 6th October - Doors 2pm

Aproximate timings - subject to change (its changed twice already so times may change!)

2.15 TBC!
2.40 Sleepwalker
3.05 Radio Waves Goodbye
3.30 Audio Rocket
3.55 Anduna J
4.20 Popescu
4.45 Bovine Boy

5.10 Lekemo
https://lekemo.bandcamp.com/
5.35 Negative Response
https://negativeresponse3.bandcanp.com/
6.00 Electrohed
6.25 Weekend-Offender
6.50 Telesumo
https://telesumo.bandcamp.com/
7.15 Minor Joy
https://on.soundcloud.com/af5NW
7.40 Astroscapes https://astroscapes.bandcamp.com/

With the forced closure of the Acoustic Couch looming, and so many Grassroots venues struggling to keep the lights flashing , we ask that a donation for the venue be given instead of an entrance fee. £5 minimum. All proceeds will go to the venue to help with their transition to a new building.

Address

London
SE25 4

Website

https://steve-psmith.wixsite.com/negativeresponse

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Our Story

A UK based minimal synth project dating from the early 1980's. A series of retrospective collections are now out on Medical Records (Seattle) and manufactured Desire Records (Barcelona). Writing new sounds and performing the odd low key set.