Toy - Rough Trade East, London, 11/12/2013

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 27 / 1 / 2014




Toy - Rough Trade East, London, 11/12/2013

In the first of two record store appearances in a month to promote their new album 'Join the Dots', Anthony Strutt watches young psychedelic-influenced rockers Toy play a breathtaking show at Rough Trade East...





Article

Toy have grown massively since I last saw them here in the same Rough Trade record shop, launching their debut album a mere fifteen months beforehand. They have grown more into their songs and their grooves. Tonight's set sees the band playing to a much bigger home crowd then they did last time, while the new album ‘Join the Dots’ is a big progression from ‘Toy’ which came out in September 2012. ‘Fall Out of Love’, which closes the new album, opens the set, and is much more of a garage rock number live and much tighter in sound, while the closing section of the song edges towards the gaps that Ride used so well in their song structures. ‘As We Turn’ is more 1960’s-flavoured, a trippy psychedelic number which in Toy's hands makes me melt. ‘Endlessly’ has more atmosphere within its first few notes than most bands have in their lifetime. As the picture gets bigger, the frames of the song expand, building up its own wall of sound. ‘You Won't Be the Same’ is slower, and comes over like a mid-1980’s Creation Records number before it changes direction and runs away at a super-fast pace. ‘Join The Dots (Full Version)’ ends the all too short a set, but what a song! It is one of my favourite tracks of the year. It builds and builds, teases you little by little, edges you on, gets the heart beating faster, plays on your emotions then the song explodes and takes you away with it. If only more bands were this good! God Bless the Toy.



Band Links:-

http://toy-band.com/
https://twitter.com/thebandtoy
https://www.facebook.com/toy.band


Picture Gallery:-

Toy - Rough Trade East, London, 11/12/2013


Toy - Rough Trade East, London, 11/12/2013



Post A Comment


Check box to submit




Interviews


Interview (2012)
Toy - Interview
Anthony Strutt speaks to Maxim Barron about acclaimed Korg Delta led five-piece TOY’s two recent singles and his band’s debut album which will be out later this year.

Live Reviews


Band on the Wall, Manchester, 9/11/2019
Toy - Band on the Wall, Manchester, 9/11/2019
Amanda J Window and her husband spend their wedding anniversary with TOY as the band play a special gig in Manchester.
Gorilla, Manchester, 24/2/2014
Banquet Records, Kingston, 7/1/2014


Digital Downloads




Soundcloud




Reviews


Join the Dots (2013)
Outstanding second album from London-based psychedelic/shoegazing five-piece act, Toy
Toy (2012)
Left Myself Behind/Clock Chime (2012)


Most Viewed Articles






Most Viewed Reviews




Related Articles


Fairport's Cropredy Convention: Profile (2015
Fairport Convention - Profile
Nick Dent-Robinson profiles Fairport's Cropredy Convention, which will be taking place on the 13th to the 15th August, and speaks to Emmylou Harris, Toyah Willcox, Pete Brown and Skinny Lister and also Fairport Convention bassist Dave Pegg, all of whom are appearing in this year's line-up
Paul Clerehugh: Interview (2014)
Toyah: Live Review (2014)