Hello!
My name is Mike Langlie and I have a toy piano band called Twink. The style of music I make is called "Toytronica" – a mix of musical toys and electronic instruments.
The new Twink album "Dust Bunny" will be a multi-color vinyl record with beautiful artwork by illustrator Kate O'Hara. I'm going all out to make this a special release and an opportunity for fans to get something extra.
My goal is to raise $3,000 to cover the cost of pressing records. Every dollar helps, as does sharing this campaign with friends and on social media. If you're a fan of Twink or like artistic vinyl then I think you'll be excited to get this album.
Listen to the entire album at Bandcamp!
What you'll get as a contributor:
$1 – Thanks on the official Twink website to everyone who contributes.
$3 – Download a digital copy of the new album.
$12 – Download digital copies of all Twink albums. (11 albums total, see the FAQ section down below for details.)
$20 – Vinyl record of the new album, plus a CD version and downloads of all Twink albums.
$25 to $50 – Choose up to 6 Twink CDs (number based on contribution level) plus the new vinyl record and CD, and downloads of all Twink albums. See available CDs below.
$70 – A limited edition 7-inch lathe cut record with 4 bonus songs plus the new vinyl record and CD, all 6 Twink CDs, and downloads of all Twink albums. See details below.
$100 – A set of pling plong cards used to record a song on the album plus the new vinyl record and CD, bonus lathe cut record, all 6 Twink CDs, and downloads of all Twink albums. See details below.
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CDs available for $25 to $50 level contributors:
You can hear all of these at Bandcamp.
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Lathe cut record of 4 bonus songs:
A square plexiglass 7-inch record made with equipment nearly a century old. It plays on a regular turntable and sounds something like an antique record. You'll also get digital downloads of the 4 exclusive songs. Check out the Lathe Cuts FAQ for information about how they're made and sound.
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Pling plong cards used for songs on the album:
The pling plong is a mechanical music box instrument played by punching holes in paper cards and winding them through to trigger notes, like a mini player piano. Cards can be taped together to create full-length songs. I used the pling plong for 5 songs on the album, and all 5 sets of cards are available as perks. Each set is rubber stamped with the name of the song and comes in a nice envelope. (Pling plong instrument not included.)
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About the new album:
Listen to the entire album at Bandcamp!
Dust Bunny was inspired by New England’s long Winter of 2015 that buried the land as well as moods. How else to keep spirits up while sheltering in place than by making music?
The album opens with brittle toy piano patterns captured on a dodgy microcassette recorder. It’s joined by a melody played on an instrument called the pling plong through the use of hole-punched cards. Music box tones sparkle like ice crystals on “Emberglow,” “Thistle Bliss,” “Fox Tuft,” and “Whirl Wisp.”
A melancholic vibe winds through many of the songs but never extinguishes the hope that Spring will one day return. Bells, chimes, xylophones, and a collection of rusty toys add warm textures over chilly synths and cold mechanical beats. Darkness and light cycle like the seasons in songs such as “Salt Circle,” “Pipper Snitch,” and “Whale Speck.” A gentle thaw finally arrives with the lullaby “Fossil Blossom.” Crickets chirp, petals bloom, and hibernating creatures shake off the blanket of snow for another year.
Dust Bunny will be released on October 2nd, 2015 in cooperation with Disques de Lapin, purveyors of fine and strange music.
FAQs
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When can I expect my stuff?
Campaign contributors have the advantage of getting the album before the official release date of October 2nd. Last-minute contributors might get their packages a little later than that, but before regular orders go out. The sooner you contribute, the sooner your package will ship.
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I contributed and got download codes for 11 albums. Didn't you say you had 12?
The "missing" album is "The Toy Box" which was an alternate version of the album "Supercute!" that came packaged as a box set of 3 mini-CDs with 2 bonus songs. I consider it a separate album though the definition may be fuzzy in this case. To maintain the exclusivity of the bonus songs for people who bought the box set there is no download version aside from "Supercute!"
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How do I pay for the international shipping?
After clicking "Contribute Now" and selecting your package you can increase the contribution amount in the field above by $14.
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I forgot to pay $14 for international shipping!
No problem, just click "Contribute Now" again and make a contribution that is not for any specific package. Please make sure you make this contribution under the same email address as the original. Thanks!
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I placed an order and have a question.
Feel free to send a message with your questions.
