A Short History

‘Reset Start Again’ is the debut album by Talk and the bands third release on Fortune and Glory Records.

Formed in early 2003 by singer/guitarist Andy Kyriakou and keyboardist Rob Tranter, the Shrewsbury four piece began life as Telex before the reformation of the late 70’s Belgian techno-pop group of the same name forced the change - but not before the band had released their debut ep in 2005. 'Byp/Ctrl' was the culmination of having caught the eye of many especially at BBC Radio One where first Steve Lamacq drew attention to them and their seven month stint at the top of the Unsigned chart and then by Huw Stephens who kindly invited them to play at In The City in 2005.

Their debut also garnered many a kind word from the underground press for their are a mix of inclement electronica, post and indie rock; what is now an established experimental avenue of the British leftfield.

'...rich sonic landscapes and hypnotic electro-beats over a back-drop of deep pulsing rhythms…vocals and standard indie-guitar styles are both violated and lovingly-massaged by dynamic instrumentations…the perfect balance between analogue and digital sounds.’
National Student Magazine

‘A five tracker of ethereal new age cosmic pop headed up by the airy Motion Sickness, a deceptive little chameleon that relaxes you with Simon & Garfunkel breathy 60s folk before the guitars start getting all worked up in a psychedelic riff lather and early Pink Floyd Ummagummaisms.'
What’s On

'Features five cuts of softly wandering psychedelic hymnal electronic/guitar pop, chiming chords loop curvaceously arcing amid celestial climes to create euphoric landscapes that a partly upbeat but grazed by a weary sense of tearful melancholia...the dogs bollocks without doubt. Single of the Missive.'
Losing Today

'Another year another name and Talk were ready to release their second ney first ep - and since it was to be their second debut why not call it (almost) the same as the first. 2006’s ‘Bypass Control’ EP met with similarly warm acclaim…

Talk deserve to be a household name and ‘Bypass Control’ is quite likely to achieve this, or is at least of such a high quality that it should get the ball-rolling. Talk are still one of the most exciting new bands around.’
National Student Magazine

'A white hot distractive progressive art rock animal of sorts threaded and snared by a bleaching of abstract computer rhythms that craftily find themselves juxtaposing sublimely between the polarised paths of an edgy austere tensely tingling claustrophobia and a warmly honey combed harmony laced mellowness - quite disturbingly superb.'
Losing Today

'Everything is pitched perfectly – champion synth sounds, great guitar lines and singer Andy Kyriakou’s airy harmonising binding it all together. Various obscure instruments with names like Ondes Martenot and Kaoss Pad make their presence felt, but it all sounds so surprisingly fluid. Imagine Simon and Garfunkel being showered by an avalanche of Moogs and rickety Bontempi organs, whilst a Speak & Spell machine explodes in the background and you’re pretty damn close. Yes, THAT good.'
SoundsXP

'With Oceansize’s Epic melancholic soul laid bare melded to the dramatic intricacies of Sigor Ros and the intense bleakness of Radiohead at their emotive best. It’s as if the back of my head has been opened like they do in ‘Being John Malcovich’, a little stairway erected and a huddle of slightly bald scientists have entered, teasing and tugging at my brain, prodding and pulling things they oughtn’t be prodding and pulling making my eyes swivel around in my head like bees in a jar…Genius!'
Subba Cultcha

Another year on and the album is ready. Recorded at the bands own studio in Shropshire where the lack of pressure usually associated with being in the studio and up against the clock never materialized and meant it was hard for them to know when to stop working. It takes time to make a record to be proud of that pushes previous limits. The temptation and enjoyment whilst recording to layer up ideas and and have the ability to add instrumentation there are simply not enough hands for when playing live was too tempting.

The bands sound now has a different dynamic; it has become more electronic and more eclectic. Every song on the album seems to push things that bit further than was possible on the previous releases. ‘Its about wanting people to feel different emotions within a very short period of time. We do tend to try and make a song like a short film. A plot a twist and an ending.'

Not the most prolific of bands then you might say. Maybe not, but perfectionists of what they do undoubtedly.

Talk are:
Andrew Kyriakou - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Organ
Rob Tranter (Scientist) - Guitar, Synths, Piano, Sampler, Theremin, Laptop
Jon Leech - Drums, Drum Machine, Laptop
Rob Barker - Bass, Synths, Kaos pad
James Gough - (Live) Visuals

http://www.myspace.com/commutermayhem
http://www.commutermayhem.com

>> DOWNLOAD FREE TALK TRACK NOW! <<

Latest extracts:

>> BYPASS CONTROL <<

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Video:

BYPASS CONTROL

MAGAZINE / INTERNET REVIEWS

Talk
Bypass Control
Here at this magazine we have been lavishing hyperbole on Shrewsbury’s Talk (formerly Telex) since we heard their debut EP last year and they provided one of the highlights to our Fresher Sounds volume 2 CD.

Strangely with their new offering they have decided to name it almost the same as their debut (Byp/Ctrl) and have opted to swing further towards accessible indie than some of the more experimental elements previously utilised to such avail.
With both tracks on this single the dreaded ‘Radiohead’ comparisons are undoubtedly going to appear, with definite pointers made to Oxford’s most famous sons in the vocal harmonies and guitar parts - for a band with the ability to be so amazingly progressive this is not their strongest work.

Saying this their ability to couple experimentation with tunes is still present and this lighter sound could well prove to draw attention from the mass music buying public leading to the highly anticipated new album.

Talk deserve to be a household name and ‘Bypass Control’ is quite likely to achieve this, or is at least of such a high quality that it should get the ball-rolling.Talk are still one of the most exciting new bands around.
Jeremy Davidoff (The National Student Magazine September 2006)

Telex - 'Byp / Ctrl'
Tasty Magazine
Hailing from the West Midlands Telex are certainly an interesting proposition. They are a band that like many others at the moment are trying to team indie guitar roots with a more modern programmatic sound. 'Byp/Ctrl' features five tracks that quite admirably achieve this.

Opener 'Motion Sickness' sets the tone with a track which echoes American indie heroes Pinback but is slightly let down by an unsightly clangy guitar riff part way in. 'Reverberation' follows which maintains these comparisons but with it's slightly dronier edge also reminds of the likes of Elbow. What really keeps them on track though is the fact that all the tracks maintain a sense of going somewhere, usually helped along with a driving rhythm section that becomes hard not to nod along to.

While Telex are far from perfect and are not quite hitting the heights of those who it is hard not to compare them to, it is obvious this is a group heading somewhere and that has produced an interesting and ambient EP.
Luke Drozd

Telex - 'Byp/Ctrl'
The National Student
Telex have achieved that rare thing of coupling experimentation with tunes. Byp/Ctrl is highly accessible to staunch indie-fans, whilst will also satisfy the minds of the arty electronica set. The EP see's rich sonic landscapes and hypnotic electro-beats over a back-drop of deep pulsing rhythms. Vocals and standard indie-guitar styles are both violated and lovingly-massaged by dynamic instrumentations. This is Kid A with tunes, the perfect balance between analogue and digital sounds.
James Skidder

Telex - 'Byp/ Ctrl'
Losing Today
You'll be glad to hear that we think we are getting the hang of this review lark thing, well it's only taken about 5 years - we are after all slow learners because this literally dropped through the mailbox just this very morning - and well, if the initial laboratory tests that we've been carrying out so far are anything to go by then this should by rights do some serious damage to the repeat button on your CD player. Telex are a quartet (Andy, Robert, Jonathan and Eric in case you were wondering their names) and so far have one self financed release under their collective belts a release apparently so hot that the dudes at Fortune and Glory are still having to administer boil cream to the sensitive burn areas. Now obviously there is much gnashing of teeth here at Singled Out HQ because this one musta tweaked its way beneath our radar. 'byp/ctrl' features five cuts of softly wandering psychedelic hymnal electronic/guitar pop, especially on the emotionally vanquished sensitivity bleeding from the silently disarming 'Reverberation'. 'byp/ctrl' manages to be tenderly tranquil for the best part until the arrival of distortedly vicious frenz laden razor sharp hooks clambering to suffocate the listening space ['Motion Sickness'/'Tropism']. The angelic 'System' sounds heaven sent like a monastic variant of Low, chiming chords loop curvaceously arcing amid celestial climes to create euphoric landscapes that a partly upbeat but grazed by a weary sense of tearful melancholia. 'Patches in the Sky' with its breezy stratospheric sweeps smoulders and prickles in the finest tradition of those more intimate periods found nuzzling between the grooves of Porcupine Trees near perfect 'Stupid Dream' full length. 'Tropism' shapes up to serve more of the same built around a hazily drawn dreamland aspect replete with unexpected twists of cosmic overloads ravaging the set for a truly head fucking experience. Favoured cut of the set is the awesome opener 'Motion Sickness' what initials ambles out to pass for a serene slice of updated Simon and Garfunkel soon erupts and cuts up into a psychotically fucked up charge of frazzled and frenetic lead riffs that implode in on themselves al a Mr 'Radiohead' Greenwood c. 'Paranoid Android' - the dogs bollocks without doubt. Single of the Missive.
Mark Barton

Telex - Byp/Ctrl
Whats On
Founded by singer/guitarist Andy Kyriakou and keyboardist Rob Tranter, the Shrewsbury four piece are probably best described as electronicafolk. Having dominated Radio One's Unsigned chart for seven months with their debut single, they emerge from their leafy borders now to plug new EO Byp/Ctrl (Fortune & Glory), a five tracker of ethereal new age cosmic pop headed up by the airy Motion Sickness, a deceptive little chameleon that relaxes you with Simon & Garfunkel breathy 60s folk before the guitars start getting all worked up in a psychedelic riff lather and early Pink Floyd Ummagummaisms.

The remaining tracks prove no anticlimax. Reverberation beats with interstellar pulsing, occasionally shaken by passing meteorite storms before arriving at some monastery on the outer rim of the galaxy, System curls up from the caverns of electronica, Patches In The Sky signalling back to their Nick Drake collection and Tropism riding the waves and narcotic bleeps into the clear air turbulence of its guitar storm and out to the other side of serenity.
Mike Davies

Telex - Byp/Ctrl
speakerspunchtheair.com
From time to time a band will come to your attention that are so fully formed and accomplished in their vision that you instinctively presume they've been knocking about for years. When you subsequently discover that they are in fact newcomers just taking their first steps as a cohesive musical formation it's easy to discount any kind of excitement they appear to be generating as cynical press manipulation, feeding the need for the relentless 'Best Band You've Ever Heard...' features (see Gay Dad, Campag Velocet, Terris and Menswear for precedent case-studies). If you then find out they're not signed you're left with two options;

a) presume it's all a wind-up

b) thank fuck record companies have negotiable taste and set up your own label quick sharp so you can sign them yourself ASAP.

Well, prepare yourself for plan B...

Telex, formed early in 2003, are comprised of four multi-tasking instrumentalists with Andrew Kyriakou also assuming vocal duties. Although they've recently supported the likes of Easyworld and feather cut impresarios Razorlight they are still without a label meaning that all day to day activities involved with recording, releasing and promoting a band are falling on the shoulders of Telex members, particularly guitar, synth, piano, sampler, theromin and laptop scientist Rob Tranter. Whilst this could easily result in dodgy, poorly mastered recordings and a slew of Photoshopped reprographic packaging, Telex instead present a vision and level of inspired artistic ingenuity that proves how bland the majority of releases really are. New EP 'Byp/Ctrl', available from their impressive website www.commutermayhem.com, comes in a lovely pink and blue cover that complements the music perfectly and belies an understanding of aesthetic graphics that is comparable to the output of the Designers Republic. However, fancy presentation counts for nowt if the main feature is crap, a lesson many of us learnt about twenty minutes into the Matrix sequels. But whereas Reeves et al left us wishing he'd taken the other pill in the first film, Telex hit the other side running.

The mixing of inclement electronica, post rock and ephemeral indie has always been an experimental avenue of the British leftfield but we've recently had our crown usurped by some innovative laptop wielding Americans in the form of Telefon Tel Aviv, Boy in Static and Styrofoam. However, don't despair as, along with Psapp and their forthcoming album Tiger My Friend, Telex seem perfectly poised to reclaim some Anglo-Saxon glory with their mixture of disparate genres juxtaposed within a cohesive whole. Byp/Ctrl opens with 'Motion Sickness', a song which firmly beats Radiohead at their own game in terms of instrumentation whilst Kyriakou's vocals converge where the bitter sweet melodies of Either/Or-era Elliot Smith and Jimi Goodwin of the Doves meet. Propelled along by Jon Leech's feverous drums and Eric Lovelend Heath II's (you read right) repine bass, 'Motion Sickness' achieves an almost choral effect, albeit one soused in choppy guitars and waves of electronic feedback. Elsewhere 'System' marries brooding organs, agitated drums and a gently infectious yet sinister guitar to Kyriakou's off kilter falsetto. Slowly building with layers of unsullied electronic beats and all manner of analogue ebbs and fizzes, 'System' achieves a very rare sense of the epic that isn't reliant upon a box of cheap, overused and pre-packaged clichés, eschewing bombast in favour of something much deeper. It is this willingness to approach relatively well worn ideas in a non-linear fashion which makes 'System' so refreshing and where many bands who state experimentation as a key to their sound often do so at the expense of their audience, Telex make music which is eminently listenable without compromising their intent.

Whilst both 'Motion Sickness' and 'System' are built from a distinctly post-rock/indie set of foundations, the standout track from the EP is undoubtedly 'Reverberation' which instead takes its cue from work by the likes of Console, LFO and Bogdan Raczynski. Based around an astonishingly porous set of clicks and cuts, Telex incorporate dipping guitars, echoing machine throbs and dislocated vocals, to produce something very special. Clocking in at little over three minutes, it's an astonishing song which is innovative, daring and uncommonly emotional and, when combined with the rest of the EP, shows that Telex understand the true meaning of the word eclectic. As to how they are still unsigned I'm unsure, but if youinvest immediately in this EP you'll be able to bore all your knobhead mates with how you were into Telex before they were even signed whilst making a killing on eBay. Alternatively you could sign them yourself and become the next James Lavelle. On second thoughts scrap that, just buy the EP. There's enough Bathing Ape T-Shirts in the world already...

 

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