It was “New Music Friday” on, yup, Friday! HMV Newcastle and HMV Nottingham were both celebrating the day and also celebrating the release of Toyah’s amazing new album, Posh Pop. (Photos © HMV Newcastle/Nottingham)
Posh Pop gracing the “New Music” section at HMV. (Photos © HMV Dundee)
It’s Posh Pop day. Toyah’s glorious new 10-song studio album is finally released. There isn’t a dud song on the album – “All Killer, No Filler” as they used to say in the 80s!
It’s difficult to choose favourites when every song is good but, for me, the standouts are Barefoot On Mars, Take Me Home, Kill The Rage, Summer Of Love… This has to be my favourite Toyah album since Ophelia’s Shadow.
Here’s a revised/updated round-up of all the relevant, and related, Posh Pop news from the past few days, weeks and months. (All Photos/Images © Toyah Willcox)
• Posh Pop – Purchase Toyah’s new studio album here. The album is available on Deluxe CD+DVD, Standard CD, Colour Vinyl and Digital Download.
• A Limited Edition CD and Colour Vinyl, with an exclusive Toyah signed print, were also available but sold out very quickly.
• Posh Pop, was officially announced on 25.06.21. Watch Toyah announce the release of the new album. Read the official press release at toyahwillcox.com.
• Levitate, the first single from Posh Pop was released on 26.06.21, with the video premiering one day later – Stream the single at Spotify. Watch the video at You Tube – Levitate… No gravity, we’re getting higher…
• Read Toyah’s album interview – talking about the creation/making of Posh Pop and much more – at the NME.
• Within hours of being announced Posh Pop was high up in Amazon’s pre-release charts – See info on this.
• Watch Toyah talk about Levitate and the making of Posh Pop in an episode of Toyah At Home from 26.06.21.
• See the Posh Pop Tour 2021/22 announcement here. Toyah is playing 29 dates between September 2021 and March 2022!
• Zoom Zoom, the second single from Posh Pop was released on 16.07.21, with the video premiering one day later – Stream the single at Spotify. Watch the video at You Tube – Do you want to start a revolution? You can do it in your bedroom…
• Toyah talked Posh Pop, and more, in an interview with ITV News. Listen to the interview.
• Toyah made a selection of Posh Pop Personalised Artworks available last month. See further info on these.
• Summer Of Love, the third single from Posh Pop was released on 06.08.21 – Stream the single at Spotify. Watch the video at You Tube – All we need is a summer of love, let’s get it on, ban the bomb…
• Read Toyah’s August 2021 “Summer Of Love” blog.
• There’s a Posh Pop Toyah At Home Special coming very soon. See info on that, and two new Posh Pop photos, here. (Update: It’s airing tomorrow)
• Space Dance, the video for this song premiered on 21.08.21. Watch the fantastic video.
• Watch the official Posh Pop album release day promo for Toyah’s new album.
• Toyah guested on the Steve Wright In The Afternoon show on BBC Radio 2 show to talk about her new album. More info and a link to Listen to the show here.
• Reviews: Posh Pop reviews by Retro Pop, At The Barrier and Classic Pop. Read the reviews here.
• Toyah appeared on the Sky News channel to talk about Posh Pop. See screen caps from the programme here.
• Toyah Unboxed the CD, CD+DVD and vinyl releases of Posh Pop. Watch the video here.
• Retro Pop: A new Posh Pop interview with Toyah. Read it here.
• Rhythm In My House: A preview of track six from the album was made available, via the video. Watch it here. See some screen caps from the gorgeous video, here.
• Classic Pop: Toyah is on the cover of the latest issue and is interviewed inside, talking about Posh Pop. More info here.
• Breaking Through: Various Posh Pop related news was announced in Toyah’s official newsletter.
Just one more sleep before the new Toyah album is yours. Posh Pop is out tomorrow, Friday 27.08.2021. Pre-order here.
Which track are you most excited to hear? (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
Levitate | Zoom Zoom | The Bride Will Return | Space Dance | Barefoot On Mars | Rhythm In My House | Summer Of Love | Monkeys | Kill The Rage | Take Me Home
A preview of track six – Rhythm In My House – from Posh Pop, was shared by Toyah this evening on social media, accompanied by the gorgeous video for the song, filmed in Toyah and Robert’s, now legendary, kitchen. Click on the caps below to listen/watch. (Images © Toyah Willcox)
Come on over to my house, no silence here / these four walls have seen it all
Two more sleeps until Toyah’s new album Posh Pop is out! Pre-order here.
Which edition are you adding to your collection? This deluxe CD+DVD edition (below right) has 10 videos directed by Toyah Willcox for each of the songs on the album. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
The album includes Monkeys, plus Levitate, Zoom Zoom, Summer Of Love and Space Dance.
Three more sleeps until Toyah’s new album Posh Pop is out! Pre-order here.
The album includes Monkeys plus Levitate, Zoom Zoom, Summer Of Love and Space Dance. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
Anthems, hope and escapism – it’s all there on the first Toyah album for 13 years!
Release Date: 27th August 2021
Label: Demon Music Group
Formats: CD / CD+DVD / Vinyl / Digital
“Thank you, Toyah, for a great album. And welcome back – we’ve missed you!”
The last time Toyah graced these pages was back in May, when we reviewed the reissue of her 1980 album The Blue Meaning. In that review, we gave a brief a resumé of what Toyah has been up to in recent years, including a mention of the hilarious You Tube postings, Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch (and if you haven’t seen this yet, check it out – it’s unmissable!) and releasing her (until now) most recent album, 2008’s In The Court of the Crimson Queen.
Well… She’s back, and how!! Posh Pop is Toyah’s first album of new material for 13 years, and it’s a blast. Toyah herself is very proud of Posh Pop, considering the album “A career best,” and she could very well be right. It’s a joyful album that draws copiously on Toyah’s glam and punk roots and builds upwards from there; the 80’s synth sound is still around, tempered and enhanced by lots of stunning rock guitar from Toyah’s husband, “Bobby Willcox” and the lyrics are clear and excellent, covering topics as diverse as the lockdown “Zoom Boom,” space exploration, ageing, bereavement, the devastation of war, the fate of humanity and the Beirut explosion. And it all comes enclosed in a wrapper of addictive, anthemic rock and pop.
• Continue reading at At The Barrier. The album is released on Friday. Pre-order Posh Pop here.
A very limited number of the Limited Edition space grey vinyl release of Posh Pop, with a signed Toyah print, are available at Amazon UK.
Posh Pop, possibly Toyah’s most eagerly anticipated studio album since Minx, is released on Friday. Toyah considers this a “career best” album.
Posh Pop is a strong collection of infectious and affirmative pop songs that are as joyous as they are reflective, from the cosmic groove of Space Dance, to the sun-kissed anthem of unity Summer Of Love. The album is crafted with evocative storytelling and musicianship from Toyah, Simon Darlow (guitars, keyboards, cello), Bobby Willcox (guitar) and Jeremy Stacey (drums). Posh Pop opens with the energy-burst of Levitate and leads the listener on a journey that climaxes in the soaring, intergalactic-tinged Take Me Home.
• See/Buy the Limited Edition Posh Pop space grey vinyl with signed print at Amazon UK.
The Posh Pop reviews are beginning…
Toyah – Posh Pop
Released: 27 August 2021
“A body of work that stands amongst the best of her career”.
Toyah embodies the essence of pop music on her latest LP ‘Posh Pop’
The collection was recorded with husband Robert Fripp and co-writer/producer Simon Darlow during lockdown – a theme that underpins each of the 10 tracks.
Opener and lead single Levitate deals with the forced confinement and sees the star rise beyond the realms of the pandemic and reacquaint herself with a world seemingly gone by.
It encompasses the overall theme of the album, which for listeners and as a creative pursuit for Toyah, is about escapism.
While songs like Space Dance and Rhythm In My House are through and through pop numbers, the genius of ‘Posh Pop’ is in the lyrics, which simultaneously reference the world today while remaining timeless.
• Continue reading at Retro Pop. The album is released on Friday. Pre-order Posh Pop here.
Toyah unboxes her new album Posh Pop which is released on Friday. Click below to watch. Pre-order the album, which is available on CD, CD+DVD, colour vinyl and download, here. (Screen caps from a video that is © Toyah Willcox)
There’s just nine days until Posh Pop, Toyah’s highly anticipated new studio album, is released. Here’s a round-up of all the relevant, and related, Posh Pop news from the past few months. (All Photos/Images © Toyah Willcox)
• Posh Pop – Pre-order Toyah’s new studio album here. The album is available on Deluxe CD+DVD, Standard CD, Colour Vinyl and Digital Download.
• A Limited Edition CD and Colour Vinyl, with an exclusive Toyah signed print, were also available but sold out very quickly.
• Posh Pop, was officially announced on 25.06.21. Watch Toyah announce the release of the new album. Read the official press release at toyahwillcox.com.
• Levitate, the first single from Posh Pop was released on 26.06.21, with the video premiering one day later – Stream the single at Spotify. Watch the video at You Tube – Levitate… No gravity, we’re getting higher…
• Read Toyah’s album interview – talking about the creation/making of Posh Pop and much more – at the NME.
• Within hours of being announced Posh Pop was high up in Amazon’s pre-release charts – See info on this.
• Watch Toyah talk about Levitate and the making of Posh Pop in an episode of Toyah At Home from 26.06.21.
• See the Posh Pop Tour 2021/22 announcement here. Toyah is playing 29 dates between September 2021 and March 2022!
• Zoom Zoom, the second single from Posh Pop was released on 16.07.21, with the video premiering one day later – Stream the single at Spotify. Watch the video at You Tube – Do you want to start a revolution? You can do it in your bedroom…
• Toyah talked Posh Pop, and more, in an interview with ITV News. Listen to the interview.
• Toyah made a selection of Posh Pop Personalised Artworks available last month. See further info on these.
• Summer Of Love, the third single from Posh Pop was released on 06.08.21 – Stream the single at Spotify. Watch the video at You Tube – All we need is a summer of love, let’s get it on, ban the bomb…
• Read Toyah’s August 2021 “Summer Of Love” blog.
• There’s a Posh Pop Toyah At Home Special coming very soon. See info on that, and two new Posh Pop photos, here.
• Space Dance, the video for this song will premiere on 21.08.21. See a video still preview.
To Be Someone, starring Sam Gittins, Leslie Ash, Mark Wingett, Toyah Willcox, Trevor Laird, Gary Shail, Perry Benson and Laura McMonagle, and directed by Ray Burdis, is now available to own on DVD and digitally.
The co-owner of a popular Mods nightclub and with a successful scooter shop business on the side, life couldn’t be better for entrepreneur and British Mod, Danny.
That is until he’s introduced to the club’s secret financier, Mad Mike, an unhinged underworld mobster who is determined to coerce Danny into pulling off an illegal drugs run to The Isle of Wight in return for his shares in the club.
Seeing their friend at an all-time low, Danny’s friends step in with an ingenious plan – they will all go to The Isle of Wight’s annual Mod festival and use the thousands of Mod enthusiasts descending onto the island as a cover!
A feel-good tale of modern-day mods, music, and scooter culture from the producer of ‘The Krays’ and ‘Love, Honor and Obey’.
‘To Be Someone’ stars a number of the original cast of the iconic, cult mods n’ rockers film, ‘Quadrophenia’.
• Buy To Be Someone on DVD, or on digital download, at Amazon UK.
This has become my favourite song already from the forthcoming album Posh Pop, which is interesting as Levitate was my firm favourite until last night, but Summer Of Love is glorious and has such a rousing chorus. I love the subject matter and the retro, slightly psychedelic, protest song vibe. Anyway, enough of what I think… The new Summer Of Love video premiered earlier today, watch it below!
Stream the third single/release, Summer Of Love (which sounds a bit psychedelic to me, and is another song with a huge chorus!), from Toyah’s forthcoming Posh Pop album. Toyah says of the track: “For me, this is an anti-war song. In the original summer of love there were many wars that shouldn’t have been going on, where young people lost their lives or their minds”.
All we need is a summer of love, let’s get it on, ban the bomb…
“We’ve explored a lot of pop media on this album. Zoom Zoom was a lightbulb moment in wanting to juxtapose today’s world with 1973. The title was a phrase of my co-writer and producer Simon Darlow’s who was spending eight hours a week on Zoom calls! It also refers to how we can start a revolution in our bedrooms now with smartphone technology.
With the line “A hunter in the night has his eye on you” I wanted to show how young people are trying to create an ideal, the perfect image on a phone, when you haven’t got perfect people watching you: hunters are watching you.”
What do you believe in now? / Bend the truth to suit the view / You created the fairy tale / If you’re the future I want to know
Are you ready to #ZoomZoom? 16.07.21 #Toyah #ToyahPoshPop #ToyahWillcox
Following the acclaim of the recent reissues of her early, groundbreaking albums, on Friday 27 August 2021 Demon Music Group will release the new album Posh Pop by British female music icon, Toyah.
Available on CD, 180g ‘Space Grey’-coloured vinyl, digital download and deluxe CD+DVD featuring a video album. LP and CD Editions including an exclusive signed print by Toyah are also available.
In recent times Toyah has seen something of a cultural renaissance with younger female artists acknowledging the huge Influence of her groundbreaking and uniquely singular career. Last year Shirley Manson of Garbage went as far as to write a moving, open letter, apologising for mocking Toyah to friends as a teenager when, in fact, she was a fan who “sucked at Toyah’s teat [but did] not have the strength of character to admit it.” Now recognized as a pioneer who’s remained defiant since acting in Derek Jarman’s punk classic Jubilee and her trailblazing uncategorisable debut album Sheep Farming In Barnet in 1980, Toyah sees this as a turning point and validation; she’d always been able to sell out venues, always had an audience, but never the back-up, feeling that in the past women were played against each other, in an industry where men made women enemies of each other.
That the world is ready for Toyah means that Posh Pop will be justly celebrated. The most complete, uplifting pop record of Toyah’s inspirational 41-year career, Posh Pop is a triumphant album, its 10 songs encompassing euphoric partying, redemption, glam rock, interplanetary exploration, industrial grooves, revolution, the fate of humanity as viewed by monkeys and, above all, anthems. Every song here is a masterclass in pop, condensing a world of wonder into barely 40 minutes. It’s maximum pop and it’s also classier than virtually any other music you’ll hear all year. It’s posh pop.
The album was made with Simon Darlow, who also co-wrote and produced Toyah’s previous solo album, 2008’s dramatic In The Court Of The Crimson Queen. They first worked together in 1977, brought together to write songs then again five years later when Simon played keyboards on Toyah’s album The Changeling in 1982, remaining friends ever since.
Posh Pop’s additional musician is Toyah’s husband, guitarist Bobby Willcox. Provided with just a chord sheet, he was in the studio for no more than half-an-hour a week. Told to do whatever he felt like, feeling free and completely spontaneous, within a few takes Bobby produced stunning guitar lines.
Whether channelling her glam roots on the addictive Zoom Zoom, celebrating the unity of mankind on the communal Take Me Home or offering solace in the achingly tender Barefoot On Mars, the only predictable aspect of Posh Pop is that a giant hook will be along shortly.
Building from simple acoustic guitar chords, Summer Of Love builds to an instantly catchy chorus, on a deeply ironic anti-war song, exploring the concept of women on the battlefield. Continuing the exploration of serious themes, over a refrain Toyah initially started on the piano, The Bride Will Return is about the tragic bride of Beirut’s wedding day, when the warehouse blew up, catching both the moment of explosion and Israa Sablani’s beauty. Space Dance explores our burgeoning efforts to begin colonising other worlds, wrapped around an infernally catchy chorus that wouldn’t be out of place in The Rocky Horror Show.
Every song on Posh Pop is accompanied by a video that feature on the Deluxe CD+DVD Edition. All 10 videos were created and directed by Toyah during the lockdown of spring 2021 and edited by Darren Shortt, inspired by the phenomenal success of Toyah’s weekly YouTube video performances with her husband. These creatively inventive videos were lovingly made at home, in the garden and in a nearby abbey. Viewed together they present an escape into Posh Pop, journeying to surprising places, virtual worlds, and Toyah’s kitchen.
The refrain “You’re never too old to shine” from the song Rhythm In My House applies to Toyah’s life and career. “That’s absolutely the message of this album,” Toyah emphasises. “It’s never too late. Life is about the journey, from birth to your last day. It’s not about doors closing.”
Written by Toyah Willcox & Simon Darlow
Produced by Simon Darlow
TRACK LISTING
Levitate | Zoom Zoom | The Bride Will Return | Space Dance | Barefoot On Mars | Rhythm In My House | Summer Of Love | Monkeys | Kill The Rage | Take Me Home
