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
Congrats to Toyah and, her new studio album, Posh Pop. As of right now at Amazon UK the album’s release formats hold the top four positions in their Pop Rock Best Sellers and the top three on the Dance Pop Best Sellers. It is also at positions 3, 4 and 31 in the Rock Best Sellers, and number 7, 8 and 11 in CDs & Vinyl Best Sellers. Astounding stats!
The Ghosts Of Borley Rectory, a supernatural horror based on terrifying true events: a hopeful paranormal investigator attempts to illuminate the truth behind Britain’s most haunted house, with chilling consequences. Watch the official trailer.
Toyah introduces the announcement of new studio album “Posh Pop” out 27 August 2021. The album is available on CD, space grey-coloured 180g vinyl, digital download and deluxe CD+DVD including a video album with a video for each of the 10 songs. Pre-order now!
The cover art for Toyah’s new single, Levitate. The first track to be taken from Posh Pop.
Welcome to Posh Pop Day. Expect lots of news over the next few days. Visit Toyah at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for numerous Posh Pop updates and links to press. Details on how to pre-order the new album (released on Friday 27th August), tracklist, artwork and previews of new songs can be browsed at toyahwillcox.com by clicking below.
Official Toyah are excited to announce two very special releases from Toyah for Record Store Day 2021. Both exclusive releases will be available as part of RSD Drop 1 on Saturday 12 June. Visit the RSD website to find a participating store near you.
Mesmerised – Rarities & Remixes 85-94
• Released by Demon Records for #RSD21. Mesmerised compiles rarities and remixes spanning 1985-1994.
• Side 1 starts with Lion Of Symmetry, Toyah’s collaboration with Tony Banks of Genesis originally recorded for the motion picture Lorca & The Outlaws. It then features the Mike Hedges-produced ‘Desire’ album’s B-sides and an outtake Mesmerised. Side one closes with the 12″ Surf Mix of “Echo Beach”.
• Side 2 features Phil Nicholas-produced rarities and remixes, all on vinyl for the very first time, including Tears For Ellie and the “Weybridge Mix” of “It’s A Mystery” which features re-recorded vocals and Friday Forever.
• Rare imagery taken to accompany the Desire album and singles feature on this exclusive compilation which is pressed on 180 gram vanilla coloured vinyl and will be made available exclusively from participating stores on Saturday 12 June.
SIDE ONE
1. LION OF SYMMETRY – TONY BANKS & TOYAH
2. PLENTY – B-SIDE
3. SUN UP – B-SIDE
4. RE-ENTRY INTO DANCE – B-SIDE
5. MESMERISED – OUTTAKE
6. ECHO BEACH – SURF MIX/12″ MIX
SIDE TWO
1. TEARS FOR ELLIE – DEMO
2. GOD CEASES TO DREAM – REMIX
3. POLAND (ONE DAY ON EARTH) – DEMO
4. NOW I’M RUNNING – REMIX
5. IT’S A MYSTERY – WEYBRIDGE MIX
Official Toyah are excited to announce two very special releases from Toyah for Record Store Day 2021. Both exclusive releases will be available as part of RSD Drop 1 on Saturday 12 June. Visit the RSD website to find a participating store near you.
Four From Toyah – Fortieth Anniversary
• Cherry Red Records is delighted announce the newly remastered 40th Anniversary release celebrating Toyah’s 1981 hit EP Four From Toyah as a special expanded coloured vinyl mini- album exclusively for Record Store Day 2021.
• Produced by Nick Tauber and introducing a new band line-up the EP was led by the song ‘It’s A Mystery’ which became a hit and entered the top 40 UK singles chart, rising to no.4 in February 1981 and earning a silver certification from the BPI in March 1981. ‘It’s A Mystery’ became one of Toyah’s signature songs and is still performed to this day.
• This expanded release presents all four tracks from the original 7” EP on side one of the vinyl – remastered from the original mastertapes for the first time ever.
• Side Two includes the four original demo/incarnations of the songs which all started life in previous recording sessions, and again are remastered from the original mastertapes for the first time ever.
• The release carries stunning new artwork including previously unseen shots from the classic photography for “Four From Toyah” which saw Toyah in four different striking and meticulous looks representing all four songs and is pressed on ‘jungle green’ coloured vinyl echoing Toyah’s make-up from the front sleeve shot.
SIDE ONE
1. IT’S A MYSTERY – 2021 REMASTER
2. REVELATIONS – 2021 REMASTER
3. WAR BOYS – 2021 REMASTER
4. ANGELS & DEMONS – 2021 REMASTER
SIDE TWO
1. IT’S A MYSTERY (ORIGINAL VERSION) – BLOOD DONOR FEAT. TOYAH WILLCOX – 2021 REMASTER
2. JACK & JILL – ORIGINAL INCARNATION OF REVELATIONS – 2021 REMASTER
3. THE MERCHANT & THE NUBILE – ORIGINAL INCARNATION OF WAR BOYS – 2021 REMASTER
4. ANGELS & DEMONS (DEMO) – 2021 REMASTER
Toyah unboxes the Four From Toyah – 40th Anniversary Mini-Album and Mesmerised | Rarities & Remixes 85-94, two very special releases from Toyah for Record Store Day 2021. In-stores ONLY as part of RSD Drop 1 on Saturday 12th June.
• Visit recordstoreday.co.uk to find a participating store near you.
“I was very reliable” Toyah tells SDE
Toyah Willcox, the new queen of ‘Sunday Lunch’ lockdown videos talks to SDE about the reissue of Toyah’s 1980s album The Blue Meaning. This is the second major release in Cherry Red’s reissue campaign, since the label acquired Safari Records in early 2020.
SDE: You’ve been keeping busy during lockdown – I’ve seen the videos – but you must have missed playing live, since you used to do it so much?
Toyah Willcox: Yes, that’s true, but I managed to build a pretty phenomenal… brand name in lockdown. So we’re going to continue with it. It’s been a phenomenon we never expected, and it’s still growing. In a couple of years we’ll have our own TV channel, doing our own TV broadcasts. What seems to have struck home is the very basic truth and simplicity of what we do. We’re not in hi-tech studios or anything like that, but we’ll actually be broadening the whole of that.
• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition. Browse Dreamscape’s SDE news archive.
Buy the gorgeous pink vinyl edition of The Blue Meaning. It is sold out at Cherry Red but is still available, in all of it’s pink glory, at Amazon UK.
Toyah unboxes the new 2CD+DVD edition of The Blue Meaning, released by Cherry Red Records this Friday, 28th May 2021. Pre-order this or the neon pink vinyl LP edition at Cherry Red.
A new video to previously unreleased Jack & Jill including footage of Toyah in Park Gates Studio with producer Steve James. This track is a bonus track on the deluxe edition of The Blue Meaning, out 28 May. Pre-order the three-disc set here. Click below to watch the video.
A new Toyah track with Simon Darlow and Bobby Willcox features on the album release Miniatures 2020. The track Future Dreaming is what Simon Darlow describes as a “theatre production in 3 parts that had to fit in a minute … from star birth to the peace of the infinite.”
Former Mott The Hoople keyboardist Morgan Fisher released an obscure underground album in 1980 called “Miniatures”. It was effectively a collection of 52 “miniature masterpieces”, i.e. tracks of one minute length or less by a myriad of music legends and cult figures. Although at the time, the album flew pretty much below the radar it has over the years had a lasting and continually growing influence.
• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.
