Tone Set
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Tempe, Arizona, United States |
| Founder | Galen Herod, Greg Horn |
| Defunct | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Tempe , United States |
| Products | Synth-pop music |
Tone Set was a synth-pop duo from the United States, created in 1981 by Galen Herod and Greg Horn in Tempe, Arizona. The two musicians first connected while employed at the local broadcaster KAET. Their initial style was characterized by minimalism, evident in their 1982 instrumental debut, Cal's Ranch. By their next release, Calibrate, which they independently issued in February 1983 through their own Pegna Records label, they embraced a more pop-driven sound.
Although their track "Life Is Busy" received airplay on regional radio and its music video was broadcast on MTV and Cinemax, commercial success remained modest. The duo parted ways later that same year, each moving on to separate endeavors. Herod pursued a solo path and later established Galen Herod and the Skin People. The pair briefly reunited in the project Dumb But Happy before it too disbanded.
Throughout their career, Tone Set adopted several alternate names such as Life Is Busy, The Art Farmers, and The Special Eds. Under the moniker Happy People, they contributed the song "Out! Out!" to the Placebo Records compilation titled Amuck. Their musical approach incorporated synthesizers, electronic drum machines, and samples drawn from movies and radio commercials.
In 2016, Vinyl on Demand issued an extensive four-LP vinyl collection named Such Heavy Conviction: Recordings 1981–1983, which assembled all of their studio material along with previously unreleased pieces.
Discography
- Cal's Ranch (1982, Zia Records)
- Calibrate (1983, Pegna Records)
- Such Heavy Conviction: Recordings 1981–1983 (2016, Vinyl on Demand)