Next up, Red Sparrows @ The Hare and Hounds on Monday /11/ October. Advance tickets for the show are available from here.

Earlier this month Modified Toy Orchestra premiered their new album Plastic Planet at the Birmingham Town Hall. On Sunday / 10 / October this performance will travel to Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Modified Toy Orchestra make experimental electronic music. But, unlike most experimental electronic music there are no laptops, no midi, no samplers and no synthesisers. In fact, no conventional instruments are used at all. Instead, a series of children’s electronic toys, rescued from car boot sales, have been modified to utilise new connections within each toy, liberating the previously disregarded, surplus value always held within their circuits.

Here’s some pictures from the Birmingham show, which was really fantastic::

And a review from The Times::

And here’s a video of Brian Duffy on BBC News demonstrating some of the toys that make up the orchestra. To watch the video follow this link.

Tickets are £13, and are available from here.

Don’t forget the first lady of avant-folk Josephine Foster, and Victor Herrero are playing at the Hare and Hounds this Wednesday (29/september/2010). They’re doing their interpretation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Las Canciones Populares Espanolas”, a collection of popular Spanish folk songs that had been banned during General Franco’s dictatorship in the 1940’s.

Foster’s voice is probably best described as sounding a bit like a 1930’s Kate Bush. You could also liken it to Bjork and Joanna Newsom, but it’s so eccentric, it’s really difficult to compare. Josephine describes The Victor Herrero Band as being like “a Andalusian jug band playing very energetic and animated music”, so the combination of Josephine and Victor creates a sound like very little else out there.

To give you some idea of what to expect, here’s Josephine and Victor performing ‘Los Contrabandistas De Ronda’::

Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band play the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Wednesday / 29 / September 2010. Advance tickets cost £10, and are available from here, or by popping into Polar Bear (York Road, Kings Heath) / Swordfish Records (Temple Street, Birmingham).

Thanks to all who came to this show at the magnificent Town Hall. It was a sell out show and both MTO and Micronormous were wonderful.

The Times review by Stephen Dalton:

With a rocket that can count up to ten in different languages, a toy guitar, a Speak and Spell and a creepy-looking Hula Barbie, no Orchestra comes anywhere close to being like Modified Toy Orchestra.

Read the full Brum live review here
Pictures: Katja Ogrin, Words: Ross Cotton

Next Capsule show is 29th September at Hare and Hounds – avant folk artist Josephine Foster performing a special collection of traditional Spanish folk songs along with the Victor Herrero band, support from sound artist Swallows.Tickets can be purchased in Polar Bear, Swordfish and here

The first lady of avant-folk Josephine Foster and her partner Victor Herrero present their interpretation of the songs that make up Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Las Canciones Populares Espanolas”, a collection of popular Spanish folk songs that had been banned during General Franco’s dictatorship in the 1940’s.  The songs survive today as part of the Spanish sub-conscious and their reinterpretation, on their album Anda Jaleo, is intended to highlight the persistence of popular music.

Foster’s voice sounds like it’s emerging from some dusty wartime vinyl, with an operatic tone probably best described as sounding a bit like a 1930’s Kate Bush.  You could also liken it with Bjork and Joanna Newsom, but it’s so eccentric, it’s really difficult to compare.

Victor Herrero grew up in a monastery build by Franco just outside Madrid, which ties in nicely with the ‘popular music triumphing over an autocratic dictator’ theme to the album.  He comes with he’s own live band, The Victor Herrero Band, who Josephine describes as being like “a Andalusian jug band playing very energetic and animated music”.  The combination of Josephine and Victor creates a sound like very little else out there.

To give you some idea of what to expect, here’s Josephine and Victor performing ‘Los Contrabandistas De Ronda’::

Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band play the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Wednesday / 29 / September 2010.  Advance tickets cost £10, and you can buy one by clicking on these words, or by popping into Polar Bear (York Road, Kings Heath) / Swordfish Records (Temple Street, Birmingham).

On Saturday Modified Toy Orchestra were featured on BBC News demonstrating some of the toys that make up the orchestra.

To watch the video follow this link::  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11176344

And don’t forget they play Birmingham Town Hall on Wednesday night.  Limited tickets are still available from here::  http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/modified-toy-orchestra-presents-plastic-planet

On Wednesday / 08 / September, Modified Toy Orchestra are performing at Birmingham Town Hall.

Modified Toy Orchestra make experimental electronic music.  But, unlike most experimental electronic music there are no laptops, no midi, no samplers and no synthesisers.  In fact, no conventional instruments are used at all.  Instead, a series of children’s electronic toys, rescued from car boot sales, have been modified to utilise new connections within each toy, liberating the previously disregarded, surplus value always held within their circuits.  This is sure to be an unforgettable performance within the wonderful surroundings of the Birmingham Town Hall.

Here’s Brian Duffy, the project originator, on BBC Breakfast demonstrating some of the instruments to a couple of bemused presenters::

And here’s the orchestra playing live at Supersonic 2006::

Tickets for the show are on sale now and are available from here:: http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/modified-toy-orchestra-presents-plastic-planet