Modified Toy Orchestra
The Modified Toy Orchestra is an experimental music group from Birmingham, England. Brian Duffy, the main member and creator of the orchestra makes the group's instruments by circuit bending sound making devices, such as toy keyboards, and educational spelling toys.
Members
- Brian Duffy
- Darren Joyce
- Laurence Hunt
- Sean Tighe
- Chris Plant
- Graeme Rose
Past members
- Mike Johnston (His last performance with Modified Toy Orchestra was on 15 October 2007 at the Birmingham Town Hall. He sang a cover version of Kraftwerk's Pocket Calculator as his last song with the band.)
Live
In 2006, the Modified Toy Orchestra was expanded from a one-man project by Brian Duffy to a full six-piece band, to have more possibilities when playing live.
New live members are: Laurence Hunt (Pram), Darren Joyce (Dreams of Tall Buildings), Mike Johnston (Plone, Mike in Mono), Michael Valentine West (Twiggy and the K-Mesons), and visual projection artist Chris Plant (Colour Burst). Together they have performed to packed houses and critical acclaim, for instance, at the 2006 Sónar festival in Barcelona and Supersonic festival in the United Kingdom. Previous performances have included the Royal Institute, and supporting bands as diverse as Heaven 17 and Melt Banana. Live sets have also been transmitted on Resonance FM and BBC Radio 1.
Discography
- Plastic Planet (LP, Warm Circuit Records, 2010)
- Pocket Calculator / TVOD (Limited Edition 7" vinyl, Warm Circuit Records, 2006)
- Toygopop (LP, Warm Circuit Records, 2006)
- This is the Monkey (7" vinyl, Warm Circuit Records, 2004)