Reviews
Skyscraper Magazine, review of A Very Fine Adventure
I find Twink's toys to be as fun to listen to as they likely are for him to play with.
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Performer Magazine, review of A Very Fine Adventure
A complete indulgence in whimsy...this album is cute in the best way possible.
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Ektopia, review of A Very Fine Adventure
Can you ever have too much of this kind of thing? While Twink are running the show the answer has to still be "no."
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Montreal Mirror, review of A Very Fine Adventure
[Twink] dives fearlessly into the cute, weird, silly, sugar-sticky realm of childhood fun. This cleverly packaged album of “toytronica” taps into a wider range of moods and moments than one might guess.
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LMNOP, review of A Very Fine Adventure
Intelligent music for the thinking adult who hasn't yet lost his/her ability to "just be a kid."
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Music for Maniacs, review of A Very Fine Adventure
Twink The Toy Piano Band creates a pastel pink audio candyland that serves the odd task of creating children's music for adults.
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Songs and Sonics, review of A Very Fine Adventure
Orchestral toy piano goodness which surprises, delights, and sometimes amazes...I can’t remember the last CD I’ve heard that made me smile so consistently throughout.
Full review and interview»
Aquarius Records, review of A Very Fine Adventure
Utterly tweaked and twisted toy piano based compositions...Recommended for anyone whose inner child is allowed to come out and play!
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NPR Music's Second Stage
Twink is Mike Langlie's surprising and playfully odd blend of electronica and cartoon music. The bright packaging and artwork accurately reflect the basic mood of the album: fun and very imaginative.
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Northeast Performer, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
Ice Cream Truckin's one-sheet says to file the record under "cutetronica" or "toy pop," but "smile-inducingly innovative" and "flat-out adorable" would be just as appropriate.
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Aquarius Records, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
On its candy coated surface, Langlie's music is downright cavity inducing child's view twinkliness, but much like Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory if you look a little closer you'll discover a darker, black humor encrusted side... and we love it!
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Low Budget Superhero, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
All told, this Twink guy might be our generation's Carl Stalling — I have a feeling that we ain't seen nothing yet.
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Ektopia, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
I hope that truck keeps rolling for many more years to come.
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Disclaimer, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
It's as goofy and uplifting as we've come to expect from Mr. Twink, filtered through a prism of unpredictable interpretations.
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Montreal Mirror, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
Twink continues to champion his charming musical version of regression therapy.
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LMNOP, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
Truckin' spins so smoothly you'd swear you were licking away at the creamiest ice cream cone on the planet.
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San Antonio Current, review of Ice Cream Truckin'
A Saturday Morning Funtime full of cheery melodies...Expect to either grin like crazy or be driven mad.
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Space Junkies, review of The Broken Record
This has got to be one of the most fun, unique and creative albums I've ever heard.
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San Antonio Current, review of The Broken Record
Mike Langlie's new disc fits the profile of hip-hop, bedroom-based, Mad Scientist Of Sound stuff, but with a twist.
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Pittsburgh City Paper, review of The Broken Record
It's good that Bostonian mad scientist Mike Langlie has chosen to make avant-garde children's records rather than pursue any of the other options available to someone with his mindset — such as death-ray invention, secret-island-lair plotting, or stealing all of the Earth's supply of some certain precious metal or natural resource.
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Tape Op, review of The Broken Record
Disturbing and beautiful at the same time — this is a fun trip down the rabbit hole.
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Need Coffee, review of The Broken Record
I've heard a lot of whacked out remixes in my day, but this album takes the cake. And the pie. And the pudding.
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The Montreal Mirror, review of The Broken Record
Eerily innocent and gleeful music cobbled together with children's musical playthings.
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SplendidEzine, review of The Broken Record
Fire up the stereo, dim the lights and reacquaint yourself with the healing power of pure silliness.
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BoingBoing, review of The Broken Record
This is the first contemporary CD I've been excited about in a long time. The overall design of the CD is gorgeous, too!
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Aquarius Records, review of The Broken Record
It's a super trip! Recommended!
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CMJ, review of The Broken Record
Bizarre but entirely listenable electro-pop.
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Opus, review of The Broken Record
simultaneously nostalgic, humorous, fascinating, and sometimes, a wee bit disturbing.
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Disclaimer, review of The Broken Record
You'll gladly give yourself over to Langlie's peerlessly smart cross-pollenation between Kid Koala turntablism and Sesame Street hooks.
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Ektopia, review of The Broken Record
Twink could just be the DJ Shadow of kids vinyl, imagine that!
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LMNOP, review of The Broken Record
We couldn't help but be fascinated, entertained, and intrigued by this clever and goofy album...This CD is a wild trip indeed.
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The Noise, review of The Broken Record
A record that I want everybody I know to hear at least once ... truly subversive art of a very high order.
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Beatmag, review of The Broken Record
Cheeky, innocent and gently subversive.
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Ektopia has a nice overview of Twink and the first few CDs.
The tunes on Twink are amazing and beautifully recorded. ... I've yet to see another CD set that's as beautifully packaged as The Toy Box.
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The NY Post, review by Charlie Heller
A strange idea, but it's pulled off well.
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The Wire, review by Byron Coley
It shreds.
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Highronimus
The toy piano's no gimmick. It's a capably and brilliantly handled instrument that underpins some bizarrely beautiful compositions.
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Scram Magazine, review by Kim Cooper
Jazzy, dark, silly, bizarre, and yes, sometimes supercute.
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Hubsville.com
[Mike] wasn't the first. He is definitely not the last. But from what I've heard, he is definitely the best: A musician specializing in using childrens toy instruments.
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The Northeast Performer, review by Carson Arnold
Most of it's like the Easter Bunny on acid in Teletubbie land, or at least our best educated guess to be a child once again. But no matter how metaphorical we put it, Twink isn't a joke band. Supercute is the work of a mature, complex concept-album.
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Disclaimer, review by Chris Willie Williams
Although the presence of so many toy instruments may make Twink sound like a toss-off novelty act on paper, "Supercute!" is just proof that great musicians can coax eclectic, emotional, and fun beauty from anything that makes noise, if you're open to hearing it.
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All Music Guide, review by Adam Greenberg
Worth a listen or two? For anyone with a touch of adventure, the answer will be yes.
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Splendid, review by George Zahora
In Langlie's hands, the plastic ivories are pretty damn cool — definitely one of music's sharper spices.
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Aquarius Records, review of The Toy Box
Delirious, circus-y songs played on an array of uncommon sound makers
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Proper Top, review by Neil Summers
Albums like this demand both your respect and attention for actually going through with such a silly idea and managing to come up with a piece of music that works.
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Indieville.com, review by Matt Shimmer
Mmm... what a fun little bundle this is! Mike Langlie's Twink project is a book and CD combination that is both whimsical and adorable.
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The Northeast Performer, review by Chris Greiner
Picture your stuffed animal collection at a late-night rave in an enchanted forest - Twink is the music they are dancing to.
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Proper Top, review by Neil Summers
It's what I imagine Japanese Children listen to in kindergarten as well as perhaps convicted lunatics as they sit in their padded cells sucking on their fists rocking back and forth, so something for everyone there really.
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Bliss Aquamarine, review by Kim Harten
A brilliant album that has lots of different, innovative ideas but also doesn't skimp on the melodies.
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Evan Dorkin, comic book artist and writer
A beautifully designed little package every little kid should have, and every big kid would be crazy not to like.
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Wake Zine, review by Lorien Gruchalla
This is the best part of your childhood - served up grownup style, hold the irony.
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Robots and Electronic Brains
It's just like you imagine it should be, all plinks, plonks, chirrups, boings, and zings, pasted together with charity shop beats and a sackful of hummable melodies.
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Amplifier, review by Stewart Mason
Individual tracks are utterly charming, particularly the opening "Hoppity Jones," which has the dizziness and grace of a classic Raymond Scott tune from the '40s.
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Score, Baby!
Instead of putting together a cutesy novelty record, he's created an hour's worth of imaginative, intricately arranged compositions that convey a mix of giddy naivety and fierce intelligence.
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Diskant, review by Simon Minter
Weirdly, I kind of like this, if for no other reason than it seems so entirely deranged.
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Good Times, review by Andy Stevens
From sweet to malevolent, from quiet to joyous, from gentle to cacaphonous, Twink's music and story capture the imagination and keep you wanting more.
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Ink19, review by Carl Glaser
The music is extraordinary in its inventiveness.
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XtraMSN, review by Faith Hamblyn
It is as crazy as a controlled carnival ride, or the genius of the best circus entertainer; all of the adventure just on the edge of danger and set in the subconscious.
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Cool and Strange Music Magazine, review by Otis Fodder
The music is happy-go-lucky but with a dark underbelly.
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Aquarius Records
Occasionally it sounds like Boards Of Canada played by 6 year olds, sometimes demented circus music, sometimes like theme music from some scary cartoon, but always, unlike anything you've ever heard before.
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Splendid, review by George Zahora
He isn't merely tapping into some forgotten kindergarten music vibe — he's pulling those ideas into the present and developing them. And the results are magical.
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News4U
Simultaneously endearing and vaguely unsettling.
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Angelfire.com Music Zone
It's weird, whimsical, and lots of fun. Highly recommended!
Full review »
Interviews & Articles
Songs and Sonics, July 2008 »
Talking about recording, design, and influences. Also features before-and-after audio from Ice Cream Truckin'.
The Noise, July 2008 »
Cover feature/interview.
Vogue Italia, Aug. 2007 »
Scan of an article featuring Twink, in Italian. Guess which photo is of me.
Electronic Musician Magazine, Feb. 2006 »
Describing the technical process of making The Broken Record.
SplendidEzine, Nov. 2005 »
Discussing the inspiration for The Broken Record.
Performer Magazine, Oct. 2004 »
Collecting toy pianos, thoughts on making music, and collaborations.
Robots and Electronic Brains »
Why make toy piano music and concept albums?
Legends Magazine »
Life before and after Twink.
Radio Interviews
Wisconsin Public Radio: Real Audio stream
The segment with Twink begins at around 23 minutes.