The joy of Toy

For their third album Toy list an intriguing list of influences which don’t necessarily give much of a clue as to how Clear Shot sounds. Among those influences are soundtrack kings John Barry and Ennio Moricone, acid house and folk bands such as the Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention.

What comes out of the Toy blender is a thrilling rock album which gets the band firmly on track after the lukewarm reception (commercially at least) to their second album Join The Dots.

That had followedthe Brighton band’s self-titled debut album which had marked them out as an indie band to watch.

The band was formed in 2010 on the south coast by schoolfriends and former Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong band members, singer/ guitarist Tom Dougall, guitarist Dominic O’Dair and bassist/vocalist Maxim “Panda” Barron along with drummer Charlie Salvidge. The band is now completed by Max Oscarnold (synths/ modulations).

Their music has been described as a mix of psych, shoegaze and Krautrock.

They have always ‘sounded’ great but now they have taken their songwriting to another level.

The opening track sets the tone with the deliciously dark drone of Clear Shot which comes complete with clanging guitars. Songs such as Another Dimension will have more commercial appeal than previous efforts.

Toy are rapidly becoming a band worth playing. To be in with a chance of winning this album answer this question. What was the band’s first single called? Entries to Toy, Nigel Thornton, Peterborough Telegraph, Unex House - Suite B, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 1NG by November 11.