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Toy Love: Cuts

"When's the album coming out on CD?" is a question often heard by the ex-members of what was probably New Zealand's premier punk/new wave/pop band from the early '80s. Well now it's here. Compiled in conjunction with the band 'Cuts' gathers about everything Toy Love recorded in their short 18 month existence. We get the entire out of print 'Toy Love' album, their first single and B-sides on one disc while a second disc is packed with demos. All this, along with a comprehensive 32 page booklet, makes for an impressive package but the real joy of this album is the re-mastering that has hugely improved these recordings. The band themselves hated the original recordings - all tops and no bass. Now, thanks to Dale Cotton's expert digital re-mastering off DAT, vinyl and original master tapes, the Toy Love sound takes on a new lease of life with enhanced bottom end and far more attack in Alec Bathgate's guitar. What is noticeable also when revisiting the Toy Love canon, once you get past the buzz saw guitars, the left of centre lyrics and Chris Knox' trademark vocal sneer, is how much of a pop influence there was in their music. Of course given the era (early 80's) there is a new wave feel to things too that does tend to date procedings but this is not necessarily a bad thing. The demo disc is a real treasure as it captures the band in a rawer form, something akin to their live performances in fact, and should appeal to those who were there the first time round. As always though, the last word goes to Chris Knox. "It's taken 25 years to get Toy Love on CD. Don't take 25 years to buy it."

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