Hot on the heels of their recent release, mysterious Cleveland art collective Joyful Toy returns with more intriguing music. Departing slightly from the protopunk goodness of their last gem of a punk single, the two-song Freddy TM digital single continues to impress.

The title track opens the single with an edgy, post-punk-leaning sound. However, it’s the B-side, Wanna Be There, that truly shines. This track wouldn’t feel out of place on those Reminder Records’ Heroes Of The Night LPs – a compilation series that pays tribute to frontwomen in the U.K. and Irish Punk, Powerpop, New Wave, Hard Rock and Synth-Pop underground of the late ’70s, early ’80s.

Joyful Toy is undoubtedly turning heads with their classic-sounding hits. Yet, a lingering suspicion remains – could this be an A.I. project or experiment? While the music is undeniably compelling, this music blogger remains cautious about potentially playing the role of an unwitting lab rat.

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