A Toys Orchestra - Technicolor Dreams
by Jamie Rowland
published: 19 / 3 / 2008
Label:
Urtovox
Format: CD
intro
Enjoyable, but unchallenging electronica on third album from Italian group, A Toys Orchestra
Hailing from Italy, A Toys Orchestra have been together since 1998, and have released two albums and toured extensively throughout their native country.'Technicolor Dreams' is their latest offering, released on Urtovox Records. The orchestra fall sound-wise somewhere between Gorkys Zygotic Mynci and Cursive, with songs varying between soft-piano pop laments (‘Invisible’, ‘Powder on the Words’) to key-smacking rock stomps like ‘Cornice Dance’ and Amnesty International. At one point they even take on the ever-growing in popularity 8-bit genre (if it gets to the point where it becomes mainstream, I’ll of course have to cut all ties to the genre – I can’t be seen as liking popular things, reputation to keep you know), with the song ‘Ease off the Bit’. And they pull it off well. Along with the Pavement-esque ‘Bug Embrace’, this is definitely my favourite track. While by no means a life-changing act, A Toys Orchestra are very adept at writing enjoyable pop tunes, and I could certainly see this being someone’s Sunday afternoon house-cleaning record, as it ticks all the right boxes for such a tasks – unchallenging, at times thoroughly danceable (for when you’re dusting the shelves in the front room, you know you do it) but you won’t be too fussed if you miss bits when the hoover’s on.
Track Listing:-
1 Invisible2 Cornice Dance
3 Mss Macabrette
4 Letter To Myself
5 Ease Off The Bit
6 Powder On The Words
7 Amnesy International
8 Santa Barbara
9 Bug Embrace
10 Danish Cookie Blue Box
11 Technicolor Dream
12 Be4 I Walk Away
13 Panick Attack #3
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart