Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

THE HUMANS ANNOUNCE UK SUGAR RUSH CONCERT DATES

The Humans have confirmed they will follow their first-ever US concert dates with a UK tour in support of the album Sugar Rush. The band, the brainchild of Toyah Willcox and featuring Bill Rieflin R.E.M. will perform material from their new album in a series of intimate UK gigs in London, Cardiff, West Bromwich and Derby on sale from Friday 19 August 2011. (Cardiff on sale Monday 22 August) The UK dates will directly follow the band’s first ever American live concerts which see The Humans play New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Seatlle.

Tuesday 4 October: Manchester Ruby Lounge
Wednesday 5 October: Cardiff: Clwb Ifor Bach
Thursday 6 October: London Bush Hall
Saturday 8 October: Derby Flowerpot
Sunday 9 October: West Bromwich The Public

The Humans’ new album Sugar Rush will be available to buy initially in the UK at the live concert dates and contain a code to download exclusive live tracks from the band’s headline London 2010 date at The Scala which received a glowing 4-star review from the Financial Times. After the tour the album will be available to buy digitally and for mail order online.

The eagerly awaited UK live dates for The Humans will be officially announced and confirmed today.

Keep an eye on Toyah’s Official Facebook and thehumansofficial.com for updates.

THE HUMANS ANNOUNCE TWO OCTOBER UK SHOWS & TICKETS

The Humans, the experimental band project featuring R.E.M’s Bill Reiflin, Toyah Willcox and Chris Wong have announced two UK shows for October.

The Humans were formed after Toyah Willcox was asked to tour Estonia by the Estonian ambassador back in 2006. Wilcox formed the band and proceeded to showcase their material during three live shows in Estonia in Autumn 2007. The three shows, which were attended by many governmental dignitaries including the Estonian president, sold-out in under 24 hours!

According to Toyah Willcox’s official website www.toyahwillcox.com, “The Humans are an experimental band project, featuring Bill Rieflin (R.E.M.), Toyah Willcox and Chris Wong. According to toyahwillcox.com, “The Humans live show is song based but the songs are deconstructed down to the bones of raw experience exposing human nature and irony. Comparisons are always misleading but if The White Stripes met with the vocal adventures of Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Gabriel and Beefheart then you might get a flavour of things to come…”

The Humans will see the American release of the album ‘Sugar Rush’ on 27th September.

The Humans UK Live Dates are as follows:

October 2011
Oct 4th – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
Oct 6th – Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush, London

The Humans tickets are onsale from 9am on Friday 19th August. 

R.E.M. drummer Bill Rieflin is moonlighting as one of two bass players on the album Sugar Rush, the second offering from Toyah Willcox’s avant-garde rock trio the Humans. Willcox is a British actress, author, musician and wife to Roxy Music guitarist and prog god Robert Fripp. Sugar Rush is due to drop Sept. 27 via Seattle label the End Records. Although the group’s lineup is technically rounded out by Willcox, Rieflin, and fellow bass player Chris Wong, Fripp lends his guitar work to each of the album’s 13 tracks. Keep an eye out for more U.S. tour dates, which should be announced soon.

‘The Omega Order’ have The Humans ‘Sugar Rush’ CD/Shirt bundle, mentioned in last week’s thehumansofficial.com news update, available for pre order at their website.

HUMANS, THE – Sugar Rush (CD/Shirt Bundle)
Limited edition bundle includes exclusive T-shirt and CD.

Label: The End | Genre: Rock (Alternative Rock)
Release date: September 27 2011
46 days left reserve now!

This looks tempting but Toyah’s Official Facebook posted today: Please note: there WILL be a UK pressing of SUGAR RUSH album CD which will be sold on the uk tour by THE HUMANS along with official t-shirts. This will then also be sold online on CD and also available digitally. So UK fans don’t need to order the USA domestic release of the album. Full details announced shortly!

Toyah’s Official Facebook posted this afternoon:

As if the Sheep Farming to Anthem Tour wasn’t enough in October… details of UK gigs in Oct for THE HUMANS coming soon.

The End Records, the US label who just signed The Humans and will release ‘Sugar Rush’ next month, celebrate by featuring the band on their front page, along with news on the forthcoming album.

Toyah also tweeted yesterday on The Humans’ NYC date: “New York is on sale….The Humans perform Sugar Rush in entirety!“

• Visit ‘thehumansofficial.com’ here.

THE HUMANS LINE-UP AMERICAN ALBUM RELEASE & CONCERT DATES

The Humans (ft. Bill Rieflin Of R.E.M.) will see the American release of the album “Sugar Rush” on 27 September 2011 via The End Records. The album release will be supported by The Humans’ first-ever US concert dates and take in Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia and a hotly-awaited New York headline gig. The concerts are tipped to include performances of the Sugar Rush album in its entirety. Full details of all concert dates will feature at www.thehumansofficial.com and www.toyahwillcox.com

The album will be released digitally and on CD with an exclusive pre-order web-bundle including an exclusive Sugar Rush t-shirt featuring an illustration by Toyah Willcox from the album artwork.

• Read the full news article at ‘The Humans’ Official website, here., or at ‘The Official Toyah Willcox’ website, here.

The Humans’ first-ever US concert dates have been confirmed today at the band’s official website. Taking in Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia and New York.

These are, of course, concerts by The Humans, but it’s worth noting that this will be the first time Toyah has ever played live in America. The site has also updated with info and ticket links for three of these forthcoming dates.

THE HUMANS: SUGAR RUSH TOUR 2011

• Sunday 25 September: Church of Boston, Boston, MA, USA | Tickets
• Monday 26 September: The World Cafe, Philidelphia, PA, USA | Tickets
• Tuesday 27 September: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, USA | Tickets

The Humans second album ‘Sugar Rush’ is released in September, and speculation has now turned to anticipation and excitement.

‘Amazon’ now have the album listed as a forthcoming release, and not only that they also have short audio samples of each song, including the bonus track ‘Small Town Psycopath (Full Mix Version)’.

This sounds like it is going to be a great album. Toyah’s vocals are incredible. I already love ‘Sweet Agitation’ and ‘Snow At 10.23’ just from the samples.

• Listen to the previews. (Thanks to Marcus Reddemann)

Track List Announced for Second Album from R.E.M. Drummer’s Side Project The Humans

The trio of R.E.M. drummer Bill Rieflin, Chris Wong, and lead singer Toyah Willcox known as The Humans has announced plans to release a sophomore album, Sugar Rush, in late September. In addition to the current lineup, Willcox’s husband — King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp — will be a featured performer on every track of the new album.

The band is currently planning a tour that will hit the U.S., Europe, and the UK to promote the release. In a statement, the band announced that it will be looking to book concerts in “cinemas, theatres, churches and other unusual spaces alongside traditional rock venues.”

• Read the full news article at the ‘ABC News Radio’ website, here.

THE HUMANS TO RELEASE ‘SUGAR RUSH’, OUT SEPTEMBER 27TH ON THE END RECORDS

The Humans are an innovative, three-piece, contemporary rock band comprising Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong. The group brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship. The band are the brainchild of Toyah Willcox.

The Humans have dedicated three years to establishing their sound, songs and performance. Crystallizing what is at the core of The Humans’ manifesto, the album Sugar Rush bears a cinematic density with stirring moments of exhilarating energy (‘Sugar Rush’) tender contemplation (‘Love In A Different Way’) and brooding soundscapes (‘Sea Of Size’). The album also features guest guitar on all tracks from Robert Fripp.

Tracklisting: 1. Titanium Girl, 2. Love In A Different Way, 3. Sea Of Size, 4. Pebble, 5. Small Town Psychopath, 6. Sweet Agitation, 7. Playing In The Dark, 8. Snow At 10:23, 9. Sugar Rush, 10. This Reasoning, 11. Fragment Pool, 12. Put A Woman On The Moon, 13. Small Town Psychopath (version) [Bonus Track]

Concerts are being lined-up to include UK, Europe and USA and may include cinemas, theatres, churches and other unusual spaces alongside traditional rock venues.

The End Records are proud to announce the September 27, 2011 release of the album Sugar Rush which will be supported by US concert dates.

• Read the full news article at the ‘Alt Sounds’ website, here.

Very exciting news for Toyah’s American fans: It looks like Toyah will be playing live for the first time on US soil soon: Toyah’s Official Facebook posted yesterday:

Seattle, USA fans….. are you out there…. this is a heartfelt shout out. Some news on warm-up gigs for THE HUMANS coming your way soon.

Seattle, Boston, New York & Philadelphia: THE HUMANS are coming for you later this year.

I’m not going to post a link but a venue located in NYC is already advertising a gig for The Humans in September, saying tickets will go on sale today!

Keep an eye on Toyah’s Official Facebook and The Humans Official website for announcements.

The finalised cover artwork for the second album by The Humans, ‘Sugar Rush‘, tweeted by Toyah yesterday.

The twelve-track LP, produced by Humans band member Bill Rieflin, includes the songs Sweet Agitation, Fragment Pool, Put A Woman On The Moon and the title track, all of which were previewed live on The Humans’ February 2010 UK tour. Sugar Rush was recorded in the UK and features guest guitar on all tracks by Robert Fripp.

Details of the album release will be announced on www.thehumansofficial.com soon. In the meantime preview clips of four tracks from the album can be heard in the Multimedia section of the website.

1. Titanium Girl; 2. Love In A Different Way; 3. Sea Of Size; 4. Pebble; 5. Small Town Psychopath; 6. Sweet Agitation; 7. Playing In The Dark; 8. Snow At 10:23; 9. Sugar Rush; 10. This Reasoning; 11. Fragment Pool; 12. Put A Woman On The Moon

• Information from The Humans Official website | Visit here.

The Gallery at The Official Toyah Willcox Website has been updated: There’s now Classic Toyah, The Humans, plus Toyah Live (In The 21st Century) including great photos from the first three ‘From Sheep Farming To Anthem’ gigs, as well as other Toyah concerts

Marigolds, the “unsettling” short film by Stephanie Zari, has received screenings at numerous film festivals through 2010 and continuing into 2011. It was recently shown at the London Short Film Festival 2011 and Brittspotting, Berlin 2011, and will be screened at L.A. International Women’s Film Festival, 2011 next month.

The beautifully atmospheric ‘Quicksilver’ by The Humans features in Marigolds, which is now available to view online at the BBC Film Network website.

LittleWhiteLies.co.uk reviewed Marigolds at the London Short Film Festival:

Finally, the sobering effect of the ‘Family Affairs’ bill came as a perfect piece of timing on Sunday 9. The screening opened with the Freudian pastiche, Marigolds, by Stephanie Zari. Unfortunately for the rest, its originality, density and slow reveal managed to transcend the rest of the collection.

Marigolds stares at the complex sadness of an unappreciated housewife. The female lead, Susannah, captures the feel of the film single-handed; her life’s troubles etched into every line and wrinkle on her face. We see her snap off the Marigold gloves, rinse the dust from her hair and scrape on ageing mascara as she awaits her son’s arrival. When he finally does, an Oedopian undertone rears its creepy head. This deviant story, set in such a painfully normal environment, makes for one beautifully disturbing film.

Would anyone be interested in a fansite dedicated to The Humans? Please register your approval, if you would, at Facebook here. This isn’t related to Dreamscape but I think it would be a great addition to the online Toyah/The Humans webspaces already available.

Introducing the excellent cover… Introducing the tracklist… Introducing… Sugar Rush.

The Humans recently completed recording and mixing their second album, entitled Sugar Rush. The twelve-track LP, produced by Humans band member Bill Rieflin, includes the songs Sweet Agitation, Fragment Pool, Put A Woman On The Moon and the title track, all of which which were previewed live on The Humans’ February 2010 UK tour. Sugar Rush was recorded in the UK and features guest guitar on all tracks by Robert Fripp.

Details of the album release will be announced on www.thehumansofficial.com soon. In the meantime preview clips of four tracks from the album can be heard in the Multimedia section of the website.

1. Titanium Girl; 2. Love In A Different Way; 3. Sea Of Size; 4. Pebble; 5. Small Town Psychopath; 6. Sweet Agitation; 7. Playing In The Dark; 8. Snow At 10:23; 9. Sugar Rush; 10. This Reasoning; 11. Fragment Pool; 12. Put A Woman On The Moon

• All information from The Humans Official website | Visit here.

Not only is there a brand new Toyah site but The Humans now have an official online presence also, with ‘Sugar Rush’ previews, the new video for ‘Sea of Size’, discography, biography and more.

An interesting feature on The Humans, and interview with sound engineer Paul Nicholson, from the April 2010 issue of ‘Total Production’ magazine.

On the recent debut tour by Toyah Willcox’s new outfit, The Humans, The foh and monitor mixes – and the live recording – were all engineered by Paul Nicholson who explained all to Mark Cunningham at London’s Scala…

In February, The Humans – the new outfit featuring singer Toyah Willcox, Bill Riefl in of R.E.M. and Chris Wong, with honorary member Robert Fripp (of King Crimson fame) on spaced-out guitar – played their first UK live shows in the wake of their début album, We Are The Humans.

After intimate warm-up shows in West Country churches, the four-piece astonished audiences at The Assembly in Leamington Spa, Cambridge’s The Junction and The Scala in London’s Kings Cross, where TPi saw them in all their experimental glory.

Inspired covers of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’ and Hendrix’s psych-rock classic ‘Purple Haze’ were the only vague nods to Toyah’s 1980s pop past. With Mr. Fripp onboard – her husband of 24 years and a globally-worshipped God of Prog – there was never going to be anything mainstream about these gigs.

Their intriguing sound has been variously described as ‘art rock’, ‘twisted funk’ and ‘complex’. Arguably, all three labels stand up and though not comfortable listening, the audience – with exception of one individual who clearly bought his ticket to hear the singer reprise her 1981 hit ‘It’s A Mystery’.

• Read the full feature at the ‘Red Square Audio’ website, here.

Keep an eye on Toyah’s Official Facebook for teaser’s about the, much anticipated, new album from The Humans… day turns into night and night into day…… this is the noise of life… sneak previews are imminent!