Our new single, 'Anyone, Anything', is out now!
What are the odds that you end up in school with not one but four (!) music freaks? A quartet of rascals that prefer their jeans ripped and their shirts flannel, who love their guitars fuzzy and furious, and would rather bring the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 Soundtrack on vacation instead of a Hitzone CD? A match made in hell. When the foursome plugged their jacks in as TAPE TOY for the very first time, the amplifiers immediately started channeling Cobain, Flea, Bonham, and Luke Pritchard. It quickly resulted in a steady stream of singles and eventually a full album a few years ago. All of which are as grimy as grunge, playful as britpop, energetic and positively juvenile as skate punk. Bubblegum grunge, anyone?
Consistency is key, once again. And that’s how you survive a few quiet, dark years filled with universal and personal suffering. Until now. They got rid of any restraint, away with the moodiness of their debut. They leave the bubblegum stuck under their school desks, the grunge remains. With a rich palette of effect pedals and synthesizers, TAPE TOY sounds more melodic than ever. That’s the advantage of their brand new studio, where they can endlessly experiment and bring their personal love letter to everything '90s to full fruition. The beats that guitarist Wesley makes at home are as the first sketch; Marc's drumming often sounds so tight and angular - as if it came out of an Akai MPC - while Maurice’s bass lines reverberate all the way to Seattle. Phoebe Bridgers and Eva Cassidy are never far away: Roos' lyrics still take you to nights full of teener ängst and quarter-life crises, puppy love and messages left on read, serotonin rushes and deceitful crushes.
There’s no ignoring it from now on: TAPE TOY is here to stay. A group that has long been able to combine friendship with an unprecedented drive. For now, they’ve found deeper layers. The overwhelming live performances should not only make you jump but also make you feel. They grab you with the catchiness of a summer hit, they hook you with the bravado and suave of your favorite rapper, and make you destroy things like Woodstock '99 - and all while the lyrics take you to those hours of worrying in your childhood bed.
2024 has a lot in store for them: a new label (Mattan Records), loads of new music, enough for a full- length album, and a big live show in the Melkweg! "Anyone, Anything," the first preview, is out now and contains it all: playful samples, powerful guitars, angular beats, and a personal glimpse into Roos' mind. Listen to the single, wherever you want! - Stef Mul
