Join the Dots
*Join the Dots* opens with a gutsy seven-minute groove that not only nods to Krautrock at its finest but waves coolly and says, “Look how we do it!” The tune creeps along like a soundtrack to a terrifying run-through-the-woods scene in a slasher flick, with a quivering bass line opening up to syncopated hi-hats and snare and sheets of menacing synths. It builds steadily, dips, and builds again, pulling listeners in without mercy. You’re stuck in it—but trust us, you’ll enjoy the ride. Moving from the math-rock-infused motorik tune to “You Won’t Be the Same,” (something that seems a lot like the \'80s Paisley Underground, with synths), the Londoners thoughtfully breach genre boundaries and genre camps, mixing things up without regard for borders. Getting lost has rarely been this much fun. The nearly eight-minute title track works steadily to liftoff, with clockwork drum precision and burbling, circular bass lines carrying cascades of treated guitars into the ether. Toy’s formula of marrying synth- and guitar-driven psychedelia with Krautrock\'s mesmerizing, hypnotic quality is in perfect balance.
Toy’s 2012 self-titled debut was all about blending the diverse guitar genres of folk, psych and post-punk.
Toy still make a cracking psychedelic shoegaze noise, but difficulties arise when melody and vocals are expected to step up and carry a track.
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Album review: Clash covers 'Join The Dots', the second album from London band TOY, out on Heavenly Records
Toy's second album has its moments of blissed-out cosmic ambition, but too many longueurs between them, writes <strong>Ally Carnwath</strong>
Review of the new album from 'Toy', "Join The Dots". The album comes out on December 10th via Heavenly Recordings in Europe and Pias in North America.
<p>Toy seem a little torn between droney jams and paisley pop, but they're definitely on the way to somewhere interesting, writes <strong>Alexis Petridis</strong></p>