Before some of you may ask - no, this has nothing to do with the likes of Kid Carpet, Modified Toy Orchestra or indeed anyone else with a reputation for making music that precisely reflects the moniker of this Italian group.
The third full length effort from English-singing A Toys Orchestra comprises of ample instrumental diversity, helping to imply the importance of the music living up to the band name. It is primarily piano-led, but clear evidence of the accordion’s rise to ‘hip and cool’ status is here, and the much loved glockenspiel is neatly arranged in the counter melodies of songs like ‘Bug Embrace’. The electronic elements are here too; experimental soundscapes and choppy drum machines add to the texture while still sympathetic to the melancholic feel of songs like the opener ‘Invisible’, giving it a sweet and modest twist that goes down a treat on a retiring Sunday evening.
It is easy to forget their background through listening to ‘Technicolor Dreams’, mainly due to the Anglo-American vocal styles of male and female singers Enzo Moretto and Ilaria D’Angelis. While a few of the hazier tracks on the album lack a significant spark - such as ‘Amnesty International’, which is not much more than bouncy half-gratifying indie from the likes of The Thrills - others prevail in their attempt to haunt, enlighten and maybe even jerk a tear or two. ‘Letter To Myself’ is charmingly reminiscent of Eels’ downbeat work, and ‘Ease Off The Bit’ proves to be more of the upbeat catchier number, with all the right hooks in the right place and in some way showing the stripped down juvenilia of this band whose main intention seems to be to create skilfully crafted, intelligent pop with the trimmings and quirks of many other contemporaries. ‘Cornice Dance’, another toe-tapper, is worthy of a good old hats off - it’s heavy in colour, texture and also aggression, the latter of which is only peppered throughout the album, allowing for a softer approach overall to be alternatively accompanied by a gentle side-to-side nod of the head.
Like a lot of recent art-pop such as TV On The Radio and The Arcade Fire (I call them ‘art-pop’ loosely based on the suitably enchanting cover artwork), it requires a lot of listening whilst alone; in the deep search for the magic of the music, which is the case for a lot of ‘Technicolor Dreams’. For many it will be a grower of an album - always a good thing. The fillers which are definitely present detract from the wholesome satisfaction, but nevertheless, an endearing piece of work
Allan Judkins