Buoyed by a six month stint in Austin Texas, Birmingham
based family group The Toy Hearts have further cemented their passion for
Western Swing by releasing this short collection of tunes they mastered during
their Lone Star State stay. Over the last couple of years their live show has
evolved from a Bluegrass bias to one more influenced by a traditional Texas
sound and previous coverage of the band has commented on how the switch has
embraced their talents. This extended
play release may be brief but FLYIN’ TOO HIGH is further proof that they are
very fine interpretative exponents of a style anchored to the core of country
music.
The four tracks selected for recording are all non-originals
(their song writing skills have been temporarily put on hold) but they formed
part of their many shifts undertaken keeping the floors in Austin’s dance halls
busy. They may not be songs many people will be previously aware of but one of
The Toy Hearts missions is to share a love and expertise for a genre of music
dear to their heart. However not knowing the songs does not hamper your
appreciation that The Toy Hearts can deliver a cracking tune with its centrepiece
being the scintillating sound of Stewart Johnson’s triple neck steel guitar.
As per usual with Toy Hearts’ recordings, Hannah Johnson
excels on lead vocals and mandolin while her sister Sophia is equally adept on
harmony vocals and guitar. For this EP, under the stewardship of Joe Beckham in
his Austin based Birdhouse Studio, Jake Erwin from Hot Club of Cowtown kept the
rhythm going on bass. Together they offer a taste of how gratifying Western
Swing can be when done well.
Of the four tracks chosen, ‘Five Minutes Of The Latest Blues’ is the one which leaves the most
favourable impression and is an original composition by Justin Tubb, son of
Ernest who will need little introduction for a majority of serious country
fans. The press release contains what the girls describe as ‘geeky liner notes’
but these give a wonderful insight to the songs and it would be a great touch
if they were included with the purchased copy to further inform listeners. The
opening song ‘What Goes Up Must Come Down’
had its inspiration from a vocal performance by a singer called Kay Starr and
its origins lie in a 1939 musical The Cotton Club Parade with the line ‘flyin’
too high’ lending the phrase for the EP’s title. ‘Too Late To Dream’ sees the band delve into the work of Wade ‘Pugnose’
Ray with this charming and sophisticated number. The closer ‘Baby That Sure Would Be Good’ is a song previously
featured in their live sets and celebrates the work of Bob Wills and Cindy
Walker.
Having enjoyed and supported The Toy Hearts music for around
half a dozen years, it is always interesting to see how they develop. They seem
very comfortable with the Western Swing style and this appears to have side lined
the Dobra and fiddle for a while at least. However they have proved a versatile
band and their undeterred commitment to the principles of their passion is much
commended. The experience of cutting their teeth in the hotbed of Austin has no
doubt hardened them and while promoting this style of music over here is always
going to have its limitations and knockbacks, The Toy Hearts continue to be a valuable
member of the UK scene. Supporting FLYIN’ TOO HIGH and the band’s live dates
will ensure we are suitably entertained and informed in the forseeable future.
www.thetoyhearts.com