Scott's Song by Song #49: Andy Toomey - Crank

 To be posted to Facebook on October 14, 2025

Welcome to issue #49 of Scott’s Song By Song (#scottssongbysong).For more information about this series, click here: https://www.facebook.com/share/Gc2VkwHQWGLdeaDd/?mibextid=oFDknk

Today I am returning to Andy Toomey, and his legendary collaborators. I have reviewed two previous releases, both EPs, from Andy over the last year or so. I will link both reviews below.  The first, “Perseus Calling” was a collaboration with The Stick Men, and the second was “Masterpiece” with Markus Reuter and drummer Zack Alford.  I recommend going back and especially checking out the “Perseus Calling” one, as it tells about Andy’s background; he’s a fascinating guy!  Disclosure: Andy and I have corresponded regularly since he reached out to me to review “Perseus Calling”, and did provide me with a digital copy to review, but as always, I’ll “call it like I hear it”, and receive no additional compensation. The new album is called “Crank” and was released recently on October 3, 2025.   None other than the Crimson King himself, Robert Fripp, gave Andy a video shout out for completing and releasing the album (which I’ll link below).  This time out he is once again working with Markus Reuter along with 2 other collaborators.  Here are the album credits:

Andy Toomey: Bass, Lyrics & Vox

Markus Reuter: Touch Guitar, Electric Piano, Sampled

Vox, Mellotron, Bass Synth, Synthesizer

Bernhard Wöstheinrich: Samples & Sounds,

Synthesizer

Shawn Crowder: Acoustic Drums & Electronic

Percussion

Engineered by Guy Sternberg @ LowSwing Studios,

Berlin

Arranged by Andy & Markus

Mixed by Markus & Fabio Trentini

Mastered by Erik Emil Eskildsen

Produced by Markus Reuter

According to the official info-sheet that Andy provided:

Crank is the sound of surrendering to the process—and discovering fully formed songs on the other side. In just two whirlwind days in Berlin, Jacksonville-based songwriter Andy Toomey and his collaborators built the album from the ground up. 

On the first day, the musicians laid down instrumental foundations without preconceptions. On the second, Andy stepped in front of the microphone and delivered lyrics and melodies spontaneously. What might sound like chaos in lesser hands instead emerged as tight, focused, and powerful songs—each with its own character and authority.

With all of that in mind, let’s begin.  As usual, this is a cold listen.

Track 1 - Berlin After Dark (3:50)

The band kicks this off with a tight groove at a moderately fast tempo in 6. Andy’s vocals come in at around 15 seconds.  He is clear and strong.. Reuter is the most prominent player here so far, with his unique fills.  The meter shifts into a groove of 5 on the chorus.   I love how the meter signatures keep shifting.   At 3 minutes Bernhard Wöstheinrich plays some fat keyboard sounds that remind me of mellotron.   The rhythm section of Toomey and Crowder really drives the track.  GREAT OPENER! I loved it.

Track 2 - Crank (4:16)

Sputtering synth sounds start this one off and a quick tempo bass drum soon follows.  This is very high energy, with a bit of an 80s new wave vibe or perhaps some Kraut-rock influence. There are lots of panned sounds, along with Toomey’s half-spoken/half-sung vocal delivery.  There is a bridge around 2:46 with sustained chords, but the bass drum is unrelenting.  Belew-era KC also seems to contribute to the sound here, to my ears.  It is very quirky (in the best way) and experimental, yet with musical sensibilities.  I really like this one as well!  So far, this is shaping up to be a very strong album.

Track 3 - Can’t Last (4:54)

A few vocal samples lead the song in, after which they begin with a moderate tempo. The tempo is primarily 4-4 with an occasional measure of 2.  The bass and drums lay the foundation along with a piano part, Reuter ad-libs over the top.  I believe, lyrically, Andy is singing about the current US administration.  The mellotron-type sounds make another appearance on this one. Just before the 4 minute mark the groove changes again for an instrumental break. That break takes us to the close of the track.  Another very strong track  

Track 4 - Godhoney (4:20)

This begins with an 70s R&B groove, which reminds me slightly of an Isaac Hayes intro, along with sound effects of people talking and handclaps.  Just before one minute, the groove changes to a slightly “Bo Diddley” (1-2-3, 1-2) underlying rhythm. The tempo has remained very moderate throughout.  At just after the 2 minute point, they go into a fast 4-4 rock groove.  The synths play melody over the top.  The “Bo Diddley” groove returns afterward.   They rock out until the end, with Crowder switching to double-time before it ends, along with some killer drum fills.  Another truly interesting listening-experience that I really enjoyed.

Track 5 - More (6:50)

So, appropriately, Toomey and company give us more on this one, as it is the longest track at nearly 7 minutes.  Let’s see what it’s all about.  It begins as a dirge tempo in 4. He tells us he’s “got it all and yet I still want more”. At around 1:45 there is a sax solo.  If it's synth, it’s fooling me! There is no credit as to who is playing it.  This song is mostly focused on Andy’s sustained vocals and the sax solos.  Another sax part appears after the next verse.  Then we have a bridge. Another sax solo follows.  This song is the most straight forward, so far.  The band members are creating nice soundscapes as we proceed.  Whoever is playing sax very is talented as much of the second half of the song is given over to it.  Good track.

Track 6 - Disappeared (1:36)

So we go from the longest track to the shortest.  Andy begins in a lower register, a cappella.  Opening with “the day my sister disappeared”.  If that doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will.  Oh, it’s about political protests and people disappearing to a prison in El Salvador.  A very powerful statement about the current state of things in the US.

Track 7 - Dear Leader (5:47)

I wonder who this could be about, hmmm?  LOL.  This one starts out with a huge chord and a scream. Then in the first verse, Andy whisper-sings, in a creepy way.  It gives way to aggressive, angry singing.  The groove behind is like Kashmir with a bit of a syncopated shuffle.  Reuter takes a solo midway through.  The best adjective I can come up with is “menacing” to describe this song. I think he is expressing the way many of us feel about the current state of affairs. There are a few F-Bombs along the way, so be warned.  This really is a great track in terms of expression and pure primal frustration.

Track 8 - Sweet Communion (5:17)

Electric piano playing dissonant chords start us off for the closing track.  It begins to give way to some organ sounds, at a slow tempo.  The electric piano takes back over as the vocals begin.  This one feels like a modern sounding “No Quarter” from Led Zeppelin.  It has an eerie feel to it.  Toomey’s vocals are very expressive. The solo at 3 minutes is bold and powerful.  The drumbeat sounds like it has some lo-fi crackles to it.  This would be good on the soundtrack of a horror movie.  

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

Andy Toomey and his high-profile colleagues have delivered a powerhouse of an album here.  Fans of King Crimson (as I have said before about Toomey’s music) will enjoy this.  This may be my favorite of the three releases of his I have reviewed.  I give it a 4.75 out of 5 stars!

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Prog On!

Scott

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LINKS FOR LISTENING/ BUYING/FURTHER READING:

The album seems to be 100% available on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nGiTLrheqkAM-0nzTRtAFjZ9kwEYtbuNI

It can be purchased on his bandcamp page:

https://andytoomey.bandcamp.com/

Robert Fripp’s Shout Out:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/797392706007436

My previous reviews:

Perseus Calling:

https://scottssongbysongandspotlights.blogspot.com/2025/05/scotts-song-by-song-16-andy-toomey-and.html

Masterpiece:

https://scottssongbysongandspotlights.blogspot.com/2025/05/scotts-song-by-song-30-andy-toomey.html