android DJs, androids, sexbots, talon, twinkle

Soft Rock Sexbots Are Kinda Hot, Kinda Creepy

The Western suburbs of London were a fantastic place to be a sad android fetishist in the late 1990s. Adult contemporary radio stations in two cities, Slough and Guildford, developed Sorayama-esque android DJs, Twinkle and Talon, who wore silver bodysuits, silver hair and (in the case of Talon) a chrome bustier. Guildford's Talon became so popular she did public appearances, endorsed Andrex facial tissue, and even had two backup dancers. And she also posed for some very bizarre cheescake (circuitcake?) photos, all in the name of connecting more people to Air Supply. Click through for more details and a gallery.

Talon was the wholesome mascot of 96.4 Eagle, the "adult contemporary" radio station in Guildford, England, DJing during the weekday overnight and Saturday afternoon slots. She seems to have spoken on the radio, judging from the photos of her on the microphone. Her predecessor Twinkle, by contrast, was voiced by a pre-recorded woman in Dallas with the cyber-sounding name of Pamela Steele. (Oh, and here's Pamela voicing a "Manwich" commercial.)

Talon started out with a black bustier, but graduated to her chrome look eventually. She had two "minders," Sophie and Gill, who also took turns being inside the costume. (Talon also had other "minders" who were more bouncer-y, in case someone got any ideas.) In some of the pictures, Sophie and Gill do a weird sort of dance routine, in which they seem to be worshipping their new android ruler, literally bending over backwards while she gestures over them.

The promo photos of the two androids range from the titillating to the seriously disturbing. I will refrain from pointing out that the exact midpoint of Guildford and Slough is the town of Staines. Images by Lemoncat1.

4:00 PM on Wed Mar 26 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
3,991 views
23 comments

Comments

Tim Faulkner at 04:06 PM on 03/26/08
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I knew their was a lady friend out there somewhere for all the silver-pants-wearing Centaurions from the old school BSG.
Miranda Kali at 04:22 PM on 03/26/08
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Connectedness Index: 150

This is going to give me terrifying, erotic dreams.
How delightful.
Garrison Dean, King... at 04:24 PM on 03/26/08
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Connectedness Index: 140

For the record, this is pretty much the image I have in my head for Annalee.
NefariousNewt at 04:32 PM on 03/26/08
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I am repulsed and aroused all at once... Do androids dream of sex-bots in silver bustiers?
Annalee Newitz at 04:36 PM on 03/26/08
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@Garrison Dean: Weirdly, it's sort of the image I had in my mind of you!
Garrison Dean, King... at 04:43 PM on 03/26/08
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@Annalee Newitz: huuuuuuh... awesome... lets go do an Aerosmith cover together ;)
92BuickLeSabre at 05:03 PM on 03/26/08
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I hear she went on to become a roadie for Daft Punk.
dOk at 05:05 PM on 03/26/08
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I've always pictured Annalee looking a bit more like the movie "Velma" myself...
Now thats true geeky hotness for you!
Annalee Newitz at 05:10 PM on 03/26/08
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@dOk: I picture you all looking like a fleet of self-reproducing, artificially intelligent robo-ships poised to colonize the stars.
92BuickLeSabre at 05:14 PM on 03/26/08
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God I'm boring. I picture Annalee like that picture of Annalee that was up awhile back.
Grey_Area at 05:24 PM on 03/26/08
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@Annalee Newitz: (in a bad Seinfeld voice) Helloooo...Von Nuemann.
Plague at 06:02 PM on 03/26/08
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I think I need the home model.
gods-n-clods at 06:30 PM on 03/26/08
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Is this anything like the German closet-dwelling sex robots from Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage Part II"?
Keep It Greazy indeed.
Ghede at 06:43 PM on 03/26/08
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@dOk: I've always pictured Annalee as a Ghidorah. I just don't have that much imagination when it comes to people. In fact, I like to imagine a Ghidorah figure reading every one of Annalee's articles out loud, in a kind of mock-monster voice.

Then it proceeds to destroy a nearby lego-city, before being attacked by the silly-putty blob.

... Man, I wish I had some action figures, and that I knew where my silly putty was.
dOk at 07:15 PM on 03/26/08
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@Ghede

Well if i had my old job at Lego, I could have given you and huge container of bricks that were used in displays.

You could have all the fun you wanted to.

And one of these days I expect we will get to actually see what the Amazingly Geeky Annalee really looks like.

Although, somehow I think her next profile icon might the the Medusian box from Star Trek TOS...
Just to mess with us... lol
olliverkirby at 08:22 PM on 03/26/08
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no mention of the aerosmith album with the robot? (FAILURE)
Ed Grabianowski at 08:54 PM on 03/26/08
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Do we have a word for android camel-toe?
Annalee Newitz at 10:14 PM on 03/26/08
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@92BuickLeSabre: I think that's the best way.
Thorfin at 11:23 PM on 03/26/08
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I'm not sure what creeps me out more: The total wierdness of shiny metal women--or the fact they were DJ'ing for the rock version of Muzak!

I'll be right back--gotta get some WD-40 . . .
therealzantos at 02:10 AM on 03/27/08
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To be pedantic, I should probably point out that Andrex isn't facial tissue. Its used more at the other end.....
Jeff-Minor at 05:15 AM on 03/27/08
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A fluzzy-bot by any other name. The next thing you know you'll be showing us her circuits! Robo-porn is the scourge of our society and should be promoted at every oportunity! More please.
deckard97 at 06:24 AM on 03/27/08
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No will power here... (he takes out his credit card)
where do they sell those? Or can you just lease?
Klebert L. Hall at 08:02 AM on 03/27/08
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So in the '90s, it was the '70s in England?

@Annalee Newitz:

Well, we sort of are... Spaceships for our Mitochondria overlords.
-Kle.