Toy Love (Punk Pop)

After last Monday’s anachronique article on The Clean, a major New Zealand band, Still in Rock continues its series today with Toy Love, same country, same period (almost). Toy Love was a band with a rather brief existence: from 1979 to 1980. Yet it took no more than that for it to establish itself as a reference band. Chris Knox, its leader, also known for having been part of The Enemy, knew perfectly how to create the dream short-lived band, author of one single album reissued in 2005 by Flying Nun Records (The Clean’s label, among others) and recently by Captured Tracks, our favorite Brooklynite label.

Having to select only two songs, it would be unthinkable not to start by choosing “Swimming Pool“. By far my favorite track, the guitar sound on it is perfectly altered, it’s pop and ironic, a great piece of music. Even after dozens of intensive listens, these few minutes keep producing the same effect. “Death Rehearsal” is a more punk song with a splendid build-up. It is from 1min45 that Toy Love kicks into full turbo, majestic. Other songs of course contribute to the Toy Love legend – “Squeeze“, “Bedroom” or “Pull Down The Shades” -, present in everyone’s mind in a country whose musical culture remains unknown to the rest of the world. But not to us, friends, not to us, haha.

Related links:

List of all the anachronique articles

Article on The Clean, another New Zealand band