Toy – ‘Join The Dots’
For psych enthusiasts Toy, the last couple of years have been a whirlwind. Their self-titled debut album burst them onto the scene in 2012, cementing the significance of the shoegaze and neo-psychedelic revival that has been sweeping through the industry.
After accompanying The Vaccines on their expansive arena tour this year, the London-based band have wasted no time returning to the studio. Join the Dots is the latest release from Toy, confirmed as an album track from their forthcoming studio record of the same name. Interestingly, while the single was originally released earlier in the year as a colossal eight-minute number, its newly liberated accompanying video features a version sliced in half.
The longer version gives the enthusiasts what they want: heavy reverb-drenched guitar riffs building to boiling point, only giving us temporary relief in Tom Dougall’s vocals, slight respite, only to be hit with another wall of sound seconds later.
The new video, though, is a little more radio-friendly and slightly more commercial, with less guitar and more vocals. I’m by no means portraying that as negative, the reasoning behind it is undeniably sensible. I know which version I’d like to hear on the radio when I’m driving home from a shit day at work, though.
Thankfully, Toy have stayed true to their roots once more ahead of the impending release of their second album, set to arrive via Heavenly. The label has been making waves in recent years with artists like Stealing Sheep, Charlie Boyer & the Voyeurs, and Temples, so it’s great to see Toy showing priceless loyalty in such an unforgiving industry.
Join The Dots will be available to buy on December 9th but is available to pre-order now. The band are playing The Ritz, Manchester this weekend and Shepherds Bush Empire, London next month. Fear not though, they’ll be touring in no time.
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