Sleigh bells ring, lights shine in the windows, and Santa laughter sounds through the night air. It’s the season when even the hardest rocking Grinch grows his heart a couple extra sizes and embraces all things cutesy cuddly. It’s time for ‘Itsy Bits & Bubbles’ from Twink.
This purely instrumental, incredibly fun sound is put together by musical mad scientist Mike Langlie, who was charmed by the off-kilter tones of a thrift store toy piano. Twink has produced five prior albums, combining toy instruments with hyperactive rhythm machines, broken music boxes, and circuit-bent electronic gizmos. Also included are kitchen drawer percussion, and the bleeps and blurps of 8-bit videogames. Strong melodies, bouncy beats and surprising arrangements make Twink a favorite for use on networks like MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central.
The opener, “Peppermint Bee” will immediately lift your spirit with its cartoon blips and catchy beats. Every track is quirkily experimental and fun, with pieces like “Tumble Bunny” displaying tings and squeaks and even bird calls. It might take a moment to recall the joy of squeaky rubber duckies, but once it comes back to you, you won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face. Even “Pigeon Walk” which resembles a toy soldier march sounds so adorable you can hardly keep a serious face through it all.
Hailing to the arcade age, Twink goes retro with a cover of “Axel F” the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ movie theme that dominated the 80s. ‘Itsy Bit’s and Bubbles’ has each track grow slightly in maturity as the songs include less cartoon blips and arcade style dance beats. This arcade pop come through in songs like “Lollidropper”, “Jollyhopper”, and “Paisley Poodle.”
Modern day lives are filled with beeps and buzzes. Phones burst into music, cars tell us where to go, and dryers sing before shutting off. Reality often resembles a video game, each of us the animated hero in perpetual pursuit of bonus points and level ups. Twink provides the soundtrack, and is certain remind you of your happy place.
Rating: 3.5/5
Hear “Peppermint Bee and “Flibberty Gibbet” through Soundcloud.
Resonance 