Toy Love 'surprised’

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 14

Toy Love 'surprised’

*- .By NEVIN TOPP < * Toy Love are really suprised about the way their /debut -album,; “Toy love/’ has ‘ gone in New Zealand,. according to: two members, of the band, Paul •Kean,and Jane Walker. '• Reviewed below, “Toy ’Love” scorched into the 'charts'.; at No. 21 in its ■first week, and last week moved up to No. 4. The way . it'is .-selling it will probably go even better. . Paul Kean and Jane Walker both said that they were surprised about -how the album had gone, considering they had .heard very little radio “play so far on their tour lof New. Zealand. The -album had received a bit ‘of air play, in Auckland, but other than on latenight album shows, “Toy Love” was not being featured.

; Toy Love’s manager, Terence Hogan, said that /disc jockeys-often did not play album tracks because /they could not be bothered to- find them. t The old Enemy .’ song, «“Pull Down-The Shades,” from the pre-Toy Love historic time, was one of the (favourite songs of the tour, but although there Jiad been pressure from -fans for a single release /the group were not going ■to do it at this stage.

The two members of ’Toy Love had little to say .about Australia, but judging from the conversations both ■ had learned a; lot. “Very' tough,” Jane .Walker said. - “My advice ito any New Zealand band ’considering going to Australia is ‘be careful’.”

♦ Toy Love was almost 'unknown in Australia, which took .getting - used jto after being near the top

in New Zealand, ' Paul Kean said. Terence Hogan said that reviews of Toy? Love’s Australian efforts had been mixed. There had been some good write-ups from “RAM” and "Rolling Stone,” but there had also been some not-so-good ones. In Australia it was difficult for bands to become known,. ? particularly those not concentrating-ton a recognisable formula,- which had little to do with-mu-sical commitment, he-said, without naming the New Zealand band; .that ? does just that. In Australia, radio stations, were stnictured to play. 30/per cent of local

material, so a high percentage of the- bands adopted styles from overseas. Another difficulty was that people had trouble fitting Toy Love, into a ‘■category. Punk rockers considered Toy Love were not new wave, -and others considered Toy Love were not proper musicians. “Consequently; the band 1 have had tohoe their own row,?:,and that is pretty ~hard considering there are hundreds of other bands in Australia,” Terence Hogan said. However, Toy Love will return to Australia two weeks after the New Zealand tour finishes, and it is hoped to have the

album released in midOctober. Britain is also on the list and possibly the album as well (remixed), some time in the next six to nine months.

Toy Love are featured at the Hillsborough Tavern this- week, and get in early because . the one-night-stand at the Gladstone was packed. '. Their final Christchurch appearance will be at the Brevet . Club, Memorial Avenue, on Sunday.

Three Christchurch bands will. support the group, and tickets are available, at EMI record shops, Mike’s Place, the Record Joynt in Atlantis Market, and at the Hillsborough Tavern.