Category Archives: Run Toto Run

For fear of being forgotten…

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I don’t think the artist named himself after photic sneeze reflex, but it might be taken from a famous quote from the movie Gremlins.

Bright Light Bright Light is Welsh songwriter, producer, remixer and multi-instrumentalist Rod Thomas who, over the last year or so has moved swiftly from bedroom producing to appearing at Glastonbury, Latitude, Camp Bestival, Green Man, Innocent Village Fete and Summer Sundae festivals.

Interestingly enough, I was just contacted By Rod Thomas after I posted his remix of a song from the band Run Toto Run. (read it here)

He gave me the song below to listen to. It’s called Blueprint. This is Mr. Thomas on vocals. He also plays many of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the drums.

[Download Blueprint – Bright Light Bright Light]

It’s a real good song isn’t it? I dig the lyrics and the vibe of the track.

A relentless live schedule has seen him appear alongside Sparks, James Yuill, Gotye, Noah & The Whale, Casiokids and Au Revoir Simone as well as doing numerous sessions for Radio 1, BBC Wales, BBC Bristol, Channel M and Balcony TV.

He’s also playing with Run Toto Run this Wednesday. Which is sort of how he found this here blog. He came across our blog on elbo.ws, while looking for Run Toto Run news/tracks.

Rod’s material has become increasingly multi-layered and textured as his production skills have gone from strength to strength. Working with Boom Bip (of recent Neon Neon fame) on key Bright Light Bright Light tracks ‘A New Word To Say’ and ‘Disco Moment’ has paved the way for a more shimmering and shiny outlook which fills dancefloors just as much as the softer tones of ‘Same Old Lines’ gather crowds at festivals.

Speaking of Same Old Lines, I scrounged up a remix of this also awesome song by Thomas. It’s funky pop loveliness that makes me move my shoulders in time with the beat. Try it! It feels good!

[Download Same Old Lines – Rod Thomas (James Yuill Remix)]

The original of Same Old Lines is even better than the remix. It really shows the mastery of Rod Thomas to create what might be the perfect, catchy, can’t get it out of your head…but that’s ok, because it’s wonderful, kind of song.

Learn more at the Bright Light Bright Light myspace page, and pick up his album ‘Until Something Fits’

Until Something FIts

Click HERE to order direct

Don’t be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don’t talk.

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Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?

Run Toto Run!

Cool name for a band. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain though, because it’s a woman that we should be looking for.

Rachael Kitchenside, the lead vocalist and songwriter, seems to be the wizard of this magical group.

Like Dorothy, she is not alone. She is joined on a fantastic journey by her band mates Mike, Cazz, and K!d Farthing.

Mike Colombian born Mike or “The Hobo” as the rest of the band like to call him is the nicest guy on the face of the planet. Fact. Mike cut his musical teeth at the YMCA roller disco, and often fondly reminisces about it. (synths, backing vocals, keys and guitar).

Cazz is way prettier without the mask. Hot even. She used to drum for Stickboy, She is the only remaining UK Hanson fan. (keyboards, backing vocals, percussion, recorder, electronics)

K!d Farthing has a tattoo in Hungarian reading “born under a bad sign” and is the coolest kid to ever graduate from the RNCM with a first-class honours degree in violin. (violin, keyboards, electronics and clever stuff)

I was sent an amazing cover of Passion Pit’s Sleepyhead in my DropBox 4 days ago, recorded by Run Toto Run. I fell in love. Then I watched the video for the cover, and fell in love further. Like falling down the rabbit hole.

[Download
Run Toto Run – Sleepy Head (Cover)]

Isn’t that voice angelic? I also love the re-imagining of the music and ambiance of this. It’s fantastic. The video is adorable. Rachael looks adorable and the animals are so silly you can’t help but smile! Especially the very end…

You may have noticed that there is only one hot chick and two animals in the video. Shouldn’t there be a fourth? Rachael sent me an email this morning telling me that Cazz was at work when they recorded the video. I wonder if Cazz was mad about being left out? I’m a little sad about it. Maybe she’s the tin (wo)man that can’t get her feelings hurt, since she has no heart?

I suggest picking up their new EP from iTunes. It’s called The Plastic Gold. If you live in the UK, you can catch them on tour starting this Friday.

BONUS TRACK:
The B-Side of the bands first single was called Alice. Enjoy this remix of “Alice” by welsh synth-pop wizard Rod Thomas.

[Download
Run Toto Run – Alice (Rod Thomas Remix)]