Flotation Toy Warning
Encyclopedia
Flotation Toy Warning is a band from London
, UK
, formed in 2001. Their sound has been described as a cross between space rock
and chamber pop, with musical similarities to bands such as Mercury Rev
, The Flaming Lips
, Grandaddy
, Sparklehorse
, The Unicorns
, and Air. The band claims to consist of various arctic
explorers and historians from the 19th century. The band is made up of frontman and lead vocalist Paul Carter, guitar
and bass guitar
players Ben Clay and Nainesh Shah, drummer
Colin Coxall, and keyboardist Vicky West.
, was released in September 2004 on the London-based Pointy Records
. An American release followed in August 2005 on Misra Records
as well as a French release on Talitres Records.
The band also released two EPs on Pointy Records, I Remember Trees in July 2002 and The Special Tape in November 2002.
'Popstar Researching Oblivion' appears on the soundtrack to 'Ultimate Killing Machine'.
They are currently working on their second album which has a working title of 'The Machine That Made Us'. It will be released as a series of 7" singles starting in April 2011 before full CD release later in the year. The first 7" was 'When the Boat Comes Inside Your House' vs. 'A Season Underground'.
Ben Clay played guitar on 'State Sponsored Jukebox' album 'Last Nights Thoughts This Morning'.
Paul Carter recently wrote and recorded vocals/lyrics/choirs on the track 'I, Ignorist' for the Fitzcorraldo Sessions - an offshoot project by the French band Jack The Ripper
. This track is now available on the album 'We Hear Voices'.
The Flotation Toy Warning track "Happy 13" was used by Channel 5 to advertise CSI
in an ident entitled 'The Drama Continues'.
Flotation Toy Warning are touring France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria in October and November 2011.
The following people have also played in Flotation Toy Warning -
Colin Coxall left Flotation Toy Warning in 2005 to live in Japan.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, formed in 2001. Their sound has been described as a cross between space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
and chamber pop, with musical similarities to bands such as Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
, The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
, Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
, Sparklehorse
Sparklehorse
Sparklehorse was an American indie rock band led by the singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous.-History:Sparklehorse's first album, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot featuring Bob Rupe of the Silos and Cracker, was a modest college radio success...
, The Unicorns
The Unicorns
The Unicorns were a Lo-Fi/Indie Pop band from Montreal, Canada formed in December 2000 by Nicholas Thorburn and Alden Penner , who were later joined by Jamie Thompson in December 2003.-History:...
, and Air. The band claims to consist of various arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
explorers and historians from the 19th century. The band is made up of frontman and lead vocalist Paul Carter, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
players Ben Clay and Nainesh Shah, drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Colin Coxall, and keyboardist Vicky West.
History
Flotation Toy Warning's debut album, Bluffer's Guide To The Flight DeckBluffer's Guide To The Flight Deck
Bluffer's Guide to the Flight Deck is the 2004 debut album released by Flotation Toy Warning.-Track listing:# "Happy 13" – 4:51# "Popstar Researching Oblivion" – 6:13# "Losing Carolina: For Drusky" – 7:56# "Made From Tiny Boxes" – 1:29...
, was released in September 2004 on the London-based Pointy Records
Pointy Records
Pointy Records is a London-based independent record label, founded in 1998 by Andy Macleod. Largely focusing on new music, Pointy Records have been releasing albums and singles of cult indie bands, most notably The Clientele, Flotation Toy Warning and Yo Zushi, for a period of ten years...
. An American release followed in August 2005 on Misra Records
Misra Records
Misra Records is an independent record label run out of Durham, North Carolina with branch offices in Washington D.C., Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California....
as well as a French release on Talitres Records.
The band also released two EPs on Pointy Records, I Remember Trees in July 2002 and The Special Tape in November 2002.
'Popstar Researching Oblivion' appears on the soundtrack to 'Ultimate Killing Machine'.
They are currently working on their second album which has a working title of 'The Machine That Made Us'. It will be released as a series of 7" singles starting in April 2011 before full CD release later in the year. The first 7" was 'When the Boat Comes Inside Your House' vs. 'A Season Underground'.
Ben Clay played guitar on 'State Sponsored Jukebox' album 'Last Nights Thoughts This Morning'.
Paul Carter recently wrote and recorded vocals/lyrics/choirs on the track 'I, Ignorist' for the Fitzcorraldo Sessions - an offshoot project by the French band Jack The Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
. This track is now available on the album 'We Hear Voices'.
The Flotation Toy Warning track "Happy 13" was used by Channel 5 to advertise CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
in an ident entitled 'The Drama Continues'.
Flotation Toy Warning are touring France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria in October and November 2011.
Members
- Paul Carter (2001–Present) - Vocals, Domingotron
- Ben Clay (2001–Present) - Guitars & Bass
- Colin Coxall (2001–2005) - Drums, Octopad
- Nainesh Shah (2001–Present) - Guitars & Slides
- Vicky West (2001–Present) - Keyboards, Samples, Vocals, Buttons & Dials
The following people have also played in Flotation Toy Warning -
- Elizabeth Ansty (2005–Present) - Keyboards, vocals and guitars live.
- Rhys Llewellyn (2005) - Drums for live appearance at Vienna Bluebird Songwriters Festival 2005. (Rhys also played drums on 'Fire Engine On Fire Part 1').
- Barry Carter (father of Paul Carter) appeared for one gig only on backing vocals for 'Best Boy Electric'.
- Steve Swindon (2008–Present) - Drums on newly recorded material for second album and live.
- Adrian Smith-Tuft (2011-?) - Additional bass guitar, vocals and keyboards live.
Colin Coxall left Flotation Toy Warning in 2005 to live in Japan.
Singles & EPs
- I Remember Trees CD EP (2002)
- The Special Tape CD EP (2002)
- When The Boat Comes Inside Your House/A Season Underground 7 inch vinyl (25 April 2011)
- a different version of 'Even Fantastica' appeared on an Earworm compilation entitled 'Where the sea meets the sky'