TOY : Clear Shot

With their third release Clear Shot, TOY reaffirm and deepen their ongoing sonic experiments. With every record, they reinvent ways to keep the listener under their thumb, defining hypnotism with the meticulosity of scientists, instigating mind-expanding narration, textures and atmospheres. A work of near machiavellian significance.

Having a wide array of influences under its belt, the band has partly taken inspiration from some thrillers and horror movies soundtracks for their new record, which fully translates here. The song structures are palpitating and take unexpected turns, capturing your attention and senses and keeping you on tenterhooks all the way through.

The opener and title track “Clear Shot” throws you in the abyss right off the bat, with a very intense and chilly ambiance,  as if strong gales were literally going to blow you away. This is a harbinger of TOY’s ability to absorb every bit of the listener and shake them to the guts, as they do with a final tidal wave of guitars that contrasts sharply with Tom Dougall’s soft and luscious voice. His pitch is addictively hypnotic.

The rhythm section and keys contribute to dotting the record with a more cinematic dimension, constantly surprising you with patterns and moods. “Another Dimension” sets a much more mellow tone. Likewise, “I’m Still Believing” makes the perfect dream pop song, catchy and uplifting, with a chorus that remains in your memory.  

“Clouds That Cover The Sun” is highly lunar and filled with melancholy, its brooding side makes it increasingly poetic. “Jungle Games”, on the other hand  has a very exotic feel and a proper animal beat, a serpentine line that grabs you. As always on this record, the vibes are so picturesque that you can imagine the jungle and its creatures. Spooky!

“Dream Orchestrator” would be an apt moniker for the band as they excel at bringing about oneiric elements. The tune is the most solar and energetic on the album, it is encapsulated with dopamine, as opposed to the sprawling and crepuscular “Spirits Don’t Lie” that leaves you meditating.

The final track “Cinema” reminds of The Great Society’s “Daydream Nightmare” in its spiritual and otherwordly consistency. It alters the listener’s consciousness, blurring the lines between dream and reality. The full record intelligently fluctuates between those streams, injecting lush mental pictures and thrilling cinematic gimmicks and moments. One gets to hear more of these details at each listen. Clear Shot places great emphasis on songwriting, more than ever in the history of the band, creating art that is equally mentally nurturing and sonically opulent . With this effort, the band has reached a new landmark, they sound more modern and definitely have a unique musical signature, they are the dreamers of dreams and the architects of escapism.

Clear Shot is released on Heavenly Recordings on October, 28th.

TOY : Join The Dots

Don’t be fooled by TOY’s name, these cunning song goldsmiths actually make the listener their own little puppet with magnetic, cosmic and entrancing multi-layered pieces of music, tunes that expand one’s mind as much as they stimulate the senses.

The London band is back just over a year after putting out one of the richest and most clever records of 2012, possibly the best British release since Primary Colours, The Horrors’ masterpiece. Let’s not forget that the former emerged in the latter’s emulating slipstream.

A swirling signature sound was crafted on their self-titled debut which, while it didn’t stick to one genre, was mainly reminiscent of shoegaze.

With their sophomore effort, they do not repeat themselves but substantiate their ability to balance pop patterns and celestial experimentation. “Conductor” is a jewel opening track, immersive as can be. An instrumental number, its beat is compulsively galvanizing, it is levitating and keeps you in orbit for over 7 minutes. Goosebumps galore! 

Does the rest of Join The Dots live up to this? The answer is positive.

The quintet excels at building a sensorial roller coaster, with no lull. Whilst revolving around time travel, the album also indulges a lot in bedazzling space travel.  

This is a band that never states the obvious and constantly surprises and plays with the listener, oscillating between heartswelling melodies, that may at times remind of the Paisley Underground, and experimental krautrock soundscapes. The whole thing remains coherent all the way through and is perfected by Tom Dougall’s luscious vocals.

Reiterating their prowess with this life-affirming and mesmeric record, TOY are in a league of their own. Creative world-class.

Join The Dots was released on Heavenly on December, 9th 2013.