Next Saturday, August 8, it’s the third edition of the excellent East London festival Visions. On the line-up are Fat White Family, Jens Lekman, Andy Stott, Ceremony, Merchandise, Blanck Mass, Girl Band, Luke Abbott and the mighty Gazelle Twin, alongside perennial tQ favourites TOY. Before their set, their bassist, fine of both follicle and musical choice, has put together a mix for us, with a fair slice of ace tunes from Psychic TV, Wire, Earth and 23 Skidoo. As well as that, we asked Panda a few questions, so listen and read below and get tickets and stage times for the festival here.
It’s been a little while since the last TOY record. Have you started working on the follow-up to Join The Dots?
Panda: Yes we have. We’ve been recording new material at Dominic and Alejandra’s place in London. We’ve set up a little home studio there where we’ve been recording lots of different songs and sound experiments.
The mix you’ve sent over has a fair amount of electronic music. Do you see any of that material carrying over to influence the next album’s recording sessions?
P: We’ve been using a few more bits of electronic equipment whilst writing for the next record. Alejandra has a few new toys to play with which sound amazing. I think we’d like to combine a lot of different elements on the next album, like the use of instruments the five of us can’t necessarily play, like bowed double bass or saw. We’d also like to explore the more electronic side of things which we’ve been teaching ourselves recently.
You’ve got a well-known love for vinyl and this mix suggests a crate-digger’s approach. What were the last three records you bought?
P: I can’t remember the last three records I bought but I remember the last three I really enjoyed. They would be Allegory Of Self by Psychic TV, Francois De Roubaix – Anthologie 1 and Earth – Pentastar: In The Style Of Demons. We’re always discovering music we haven’t heard before, that’s something we all have in common. I’d like to buy more vinyl but I can’t afford it.
Are there any new bands out there that you’ve been enjoying or would like to take on tour with you?
P: Our friends JC Flowers are really great, I’d like to take them on tour.
Finally, we realise we’ve never asked – why the nickname "Panda"? Your legal name’s already Maxim Barron!
P: A lot of my friends call me by my real name. Sometimes it’s nice to have a pseudonym. Tom gave me the nickname when we were younger, referring maybe to my sleepy demeanour and it seems to have stuck.
Interview by Bryan Brussee
