Toy, Shepherd's Bush Empire

TOY look like a ‘70s throwback band: they rock a lot of paisley and corduroy. Their long veils of hair cascade down over their shoulders onto their sheepskin jackets. The vibe is derivative, but at least it’s more Grateful Dead than Austin Powers, more psychedelic than shagadelic, baby!

While TOY’s look verges on pastiche, the Brighton quintet’s music steers clear of mimicry. Experimental freak-outs are their calling card, but bassist Panda Barron anchors their jams with a steady Motorik beat, often reminiscent of German krautrockers Can or Neu!

TOY aren’t the only ones making mind-bending psychedelia these days. Along with Leeds outfit Hookworms, Noel Gallagher-approved Temples, and the Swedish collective Goat, to name just a few, TOY are part of a new generation of psychedelic adventurers.

This new crop of psychonauts run the risk of sounding like just another Doors tribute band, but thankfully, TOY don’t.  The group swerves from psychedelia to indie pop and back again; it’s an unlikely route but the band is going places. They’ve supported The Vaccines and The Horrors (whose bassist described TOY as his “favourite band of 2012”), and have been touring nonstop since the release of their eponymous debut just two years ago.