Feature: Sex On Toast – Pegasus
With Hollywood surrealism, old-world glamour, edgy funk, and the feel of a coming-of-age movie, Sex On Toast reveal their latest album ‘Pegasus’.
Drawing from an array of influences such as theatrical rock, film soundtracks, noise, and Motown, the album tells a story in two parts: part fantasy, part reality.
The album begins with ‘Opening Credits’, in which the orchestra begins a soundtrack to a bizarre film, and the story unfolds from there. ‘Somebody Like You’ flows on from that into what could be the opening scene of the album, a groovy and boppy start. ‘Never Let Go’ is packed with groovy riffs, twinkling sounds, and airy backing vocals, melding from the daydream start of the album into something more melancholy, flowing into ‘Take Your Mask Off (And Love Me Tonight)’, a slower, sensual, jazzy jam with horns and keyboard synth. More instruments join in as the song builds up to a truly groovy out-of-the-box experience.
‘Pegasus Rising’ follows in a magical piano daze, a truly moody instrumental piece with old Hollywood energy. Following is a monologue, ‘Neil Hamburger’s Two Cents’, an ironic takedown of the album it’s featured on, with Neil Hamburger’s accent feeling right at home with the theatrical energy. The cutting comments are quickly proven false by the next track, ‘But You Still Whine?’, a retro, synth-infused, melancholic song that would feel right at home in the climax of a John Hughes movie.
‘Another One’ acts as a rude awakening, starting with discordant noises before launching into a more rock n’ roll beat, referencing the riff from the last song with a minor twist as melancholy turns to anger. The song ends with garbled radio static to change the mood, priming the listener for the next song, ‘Layin’ Next To You’, a slow, acoustic personal reflection, which brings back the synth towards the end of the song. ‘Ooo Yeah’ is short and curious, with instruments that seem to spiral around each other and play together for the short duration of the song.
The penultimate song on the album is ‘Prelude To A Cat’, a brief acoustic dalliance before ‘Enrique’ begins, ending the album on a stripped-back song which lets the singer’s strong voice really shine with the muzak beat and vulnerable lyrics, like someone trying to play it cool on their hardest day.
Sex On Toasts latest album Pegasus is available to stream now.
