Album review: THE TOI – Water Into Wine

January 2nd, 2015 by jason

Sushi Roll [Released 02.03.15]

Glaswegian three piece rock band the Toi consist of Pol Healy (vocals/guitar), Andy Carr (bass/guitar/vocals) and Stevie Mclay (drums/vocals). They also have Dan Hawkins of the Darkness involved in helping out on the arrangements along with Nick Brine (who runs Dan Hawkins studio) who produced the album with the band.

The album had a low key release back 2013 and now it gets a full release and rightly so. They remind me a lot of fellow Scots rockers Estrella at times and on their debut single ‘Get On IT’, the arena rock sound of Bon Jovi. ‘Come Alive’ is a bouncy hard rock tune, another single and I love ‘Till The Morning Comes’, where the band mix hard rock with a strong pop hook filled chorus. They are well placed to ride on the back of the current upsurge in young bands with a melodic rock sound like H.E.A.T. Estrella, Santa Cruz et al.

They have ballads with ‘Down By The River’ a good ‘un. They can veer into treading water on a couple of songs in that you have heard to before and better, although overall they hit the spot more often than not.

This is a very assured debut album with the band sure to get more attention over the coming months and years. They don’t trade on the Dan Hawkins connection either, as they have honed their own sound and tunes since forming back in 2011. It is melodic hard rock with a strong pop edge at times. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)