Toyah – Sheep Farming In Barnet

Toyah – Sheep Farming In Barnet

A bold, theatrical, and fiercely original debut, Sheep Farming In Barnet established Toyah Willcox as one of the most distinctive voices of Britain's post-punk movement. Released in 1979, the album combines angular guitars, dramatic vocals, art rock experimentation, and new wave energy into a record that perfectly captures the creativity and excitement of the late 1970s underground music scene.

Fronting Toyah, Willcox quickly became an icon of the new wave era, celebrated for her striking image, commanding stage presence, and fearless approach to songwriting. Alongside guitarist Joel Bogen, bassist Mark Henry, drummer Steve Bray, and keyboard player Peter Bush, the band crafted a sound that fused punk's urgency with progressive arrangements and theatrical flair. The album laid the foundations for Toyah's commercial breakthrough in the early 1980s, influencing countless artists with its adventurous spirit.

Sheep Farming In Barnet opens with the explosive "Neon Womb," immediately showcasing Toyah's unmistakable vocal style before moving into fan favourites "Indecision," "Waiting," and the synth-driven "Computer." The haunting "Victims Of The Riddle" stands as one of the album's defining moments, while side two continues the momentum with "Our Movie," the dramatic "Danced," the energetic "Race Through Space," and the darker reinterpretation "Victims Of The Riddle (Vivisection)." Throughout, the album balances punk aggression with imaginative songwriting and art rock ambition.

Now regarded as one of the defining releases of the British new wave movement, Sheep Farming In Barnet remains an essential album for collectors of post-punk and alternative rock. Perfect for fans of Siouxsie and the Banshees, X-Ray Spex, The Slits, Magazine, and The Human League, this influential debut is a must-have addition to any vinyl collection.

Tracklist

Heaven (Side A)

1. Neon Womb
2. Indecision
3. Waiting
4. Computer
5. Victims Of The Riddle
6. Elusive Stranger

Hell (Side B)

1. Our Movie
2. Danced
3. Last Goodbye
4. Victims Of The Riddle (Vivisection)
5. Race Through Space