Music composed for toy instruments is nothing new. Leopold Mozart isn’t just Wolfgang’s dad, his ‘Toy Symphony’ from the mid-18th century also gives him parental rights to toytronica. John Cage wrote his ‘Suite for Toy Piano’ in 1948. Even Fourtet thought that the closing strains of his now classic 2003 album, Rounds, needed a squeaking rubber duck. Fourtet was right.
Â
However, compared to Mike Langlie these guys are all part-timers. For over a decade the Boston native has been mixing toy instruments and electronics under the moniker of Twink. Critter Club is Twink’s 11th release.
Â
The album sparkles, chimes and glimmers its way through 12 instrumental pieces. The track names, by the way, are based on cute font based graphics. Track seven, for example is {^Q(Y)^} whilst track 12 is  ˂(= U v U =)˃.
Â
I was expecting this album to be quirky and fun – which it is, lurching from circus ditties to Super Mario approved soundtracks – but I was hooked in by its surprising depth. Critter Club moves beyond mere novelty with excellent writing and arrangements. There are nods to new jack and Balinese music, trips into electro-ambience and beautiful music boxes created from layers of toy pianos. Aided by a posse of string, wind and brass players, there is a world of timbral variety which Langlie deftly employs.
Â
Critter Club pulls off a couple of impressive contradictions. It’s cohesive and diverse, funny and smart.
Â
Matt Wakeling
