My Toys Like Me

My Toys Like Me are an English electronic music act from London, which originally consisted of Frances Noon also known as Aluna Francis, (now of the band AlunaGeorge) and Lazlo Legezer, who both met in 2005.

My Toys Like Me
OriginLondon, England
Years active1997–present
MembersOriginal members (1997–2011):
Frances Noon (aka Aluna Francis)
Lazlo Legezer
Charlie Boud (live shows)
Alfonso Pisanelli (live shows)

It was formed as a studio project but later evolved into a four-piece band. Aluna Francis had previously recorded an album with Earth Leakage Trip[1] and formed indie band The Boundary. Lazlo Legezer began making rave records in the early 1990s as Psi-Q Network and did the first ever live set on seminal illegal rave soundsystem Spiral Tribe. He produced many styles of music under different names, including an album, Mimoid, with lyrics by Jachym Topol.[2]

Their first single "Sick Couple" was released on 7" vinyl in 1997. Sold exclusively through Rough Trade and described on their homepage as "like hearing Portishead or a long lost 50's record for the first time", the limited run of 500 copies sold out in two weeks. They developed a strong following on the then thriving Myspace, and topped play charts ahead of mainstream promoted artists.[3]

Two new members were recruited in 2007 to play live – Charlie Boud on guitar and bass and Alfonso Pisanelli on drums. Early gigs included support for Brazilian chart-toppers C.S.S. and Trash City (a late night field at Glastonbury), and they came second in 2007's Diesel-U-Music competition.[4] Later they played festivals in the UK and Europe and supported Kraftwerk and Aphex Twin at Livorno football stadium in Italy.[5]

In 2009, they released their debut album Where We Are. Uncut magazine said "Are you ready for the most playful, inventive, life-affirming British debut of the decade?"[6][7] The Sunday Times Culture Supplement said "Great album, Great band" and "Brilliant Cult Electro Quartet".[8] They performed a live session on Rob Da Bank's Radio 1 show. Tracks from the album were used on both the British and U.S. versions of the television show Skins.[9][10]

Recent events

Soon after the drummer of the band emigrated to Canada, My Toys Like Me ceased performing live and concentrated on working on their second album Come On Sunshine. Having completed six songs which appear on the album (and possibly others which have not been released), and filmed a video for the proposed single "Freak", Francis left to form AlunaGeorge with George Reid. AlunaGeorge went on to have a number 2 hit on the UK Singles Chart with "White Noise" in collaboration with Disclosure, and their album, Body Music reached number 11 on the UK Albums Chart.

The album Come On Sunshine was completed with guest vocals from Ahu Kelesoglu (Dolly) features on the song 'Lost', as well as Karis McLarty and Dan Bowskill (Dub Pistols) on the songs 'Come On Sunshine' and 'Feathers' respectively. It never enjoyed a proper release, but has appeared on mainstream download sites.

A single, "Come On Sunshine" featuring the vocals of Karis McLarty, was released on 3 October 2011.[11] A promo titled Come On Sunshine was also made available via download stores and included the tracks "Freak" and "Matador".[12]

It is unclear if or when My Toys Like Me will release further material, or if Legezer is working on other projects.

Discography

Albums
  • 2009: Where We Are
  • 2011: Come On Sunshine (online release)[13]

EPs
  • 2011: Come On Sunshine (containing "Come On Sunshine", "Freak" and "Matador") (promo release)

Singles
  • 1997: "Sick Couple" (limited edition)
  • 2011: "Freak"
  • 2011: "Come On Sunshine" (featuring Karis McLarty)

References
  1. "Earth Leakage Trip – Welcome to the NexGen Music Store". Nexgenmusicgroup.com. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  2. "Mimoid produced by Gus Fernald". Naceva.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. "Music – Music News, New Songs, Videos, Music Shows and Playlists from MTV". Mtv.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. "Diesel-U-Music Announces Semi-finalists for International Unsigned Band Contest". Sentimentalistmag.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  5. "Vacanze a Livorno, Isola d'Elba, Costa degli etruschi". Livorno.guidatoscana.it. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  6. "Unmarked Door: My Toys Like Me". Unmarkeddoor.blogspot.com. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  7. "New band of the day – No 488: My Toys Like Me". The Guardian. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  8. Cairns, Dan. "Breaking act: AlunaGeorge". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  9. "Skins Music: My Toys like Me". Wetpaint.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  10. "Artist Interview – My Toys Like Me". Tv.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  11. Souza, Kris De (3 October 2011). "The 405 News: My Toys Like Me announce new single 'Come On Sunshine'". Thefourohfive.com. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  12. "My Toys Like Me – Come On Sunshine". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  13. "Come On Sunshine by My Toys Like Me". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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