Reviews of "Second Level Crossing"

The world has been waiting a long time for a song called "Chamber of Commerce" and now, thanks to Dublin space-cadets Rollers/Sparkers, it can happily ends its quest and put its feet up. That track is one of nine weirdly-bearded, sonically-enhanced bobby-dazzlers which make the Rollers/Sparkers debut album a joy to behold and even more pleasurable to listen to. Musically, Second Level Crossing is as wide as it is deep, taking off from where their Geography for the Leaving EP left off. The album's highlight, "Song for Sick Children", starts out as a delightful, twittering slumber-fest until is is poked into more frantic action halfway through. Both "Criss Path" and their anthem for ambitious chambers of commerce everywhere also catch the ear, as much for their sulky melodies as their boisterous shrieks and squalls of noise.

(Jim Carroll, "The Irish Times")

 

With a masterful debut EP in the back catalogue and consistently positive word on the street surrounding their gigs, Second Level Crossing is the full length debut from Dublin-based trio Rollers/Sparkers. The tone and resonance set by their 2003 EP Geography for the Leaving is perpetuated by the opening "Signal Burning". Beginning with an über-minimal kick drum and guitar, it builds up to a glorious crescendo, fraught with skewed humour and distant melancholia. It may be deduced from the band's name that they are smoking buddies, but more than sharing extra-curricular activities it's clear that R/S have a collective love of all things left of centre; tracks like "Spumeral" and "Uncle on Wheels" suggest smoky times spent listening to Neu! And Yo La Tengo. Yet the R/S approach is too eccentric and abstract to define through influence: "Chamber of Commerce" is a found-sound web of madness, and there is much probing of tongues into cheeks on this album (their website is also rather funny).

This is a purposefully awkward album from an act still developing; it takes a few listens to grasp, and never quite matches their live rhetoric. But whether sampling rap breaks, layering sweet vocal harmonies or whacking it all through a ring modulator, it's a brave and wonderful debut.

(Karla Healion, "Hot Press")

 

Rollers/Sparkers' debut album sees the Dublin-based trio surpass expectations by delivering a record of experimental songs, merging rock and electronic influences with an unsuspected penchant for fragile, melodic songs. Their trademark vocal experimentation is still here and the electronic aspect is played out on songs like "Criss Path" and a reworking of "Stick Shift", but then there are the gorgeous harmonies and delicate vocals that grace songs like "Angkor Wat", "Song for Sick Children" and the single "Signal Burning".

(Edel Coffey, "Sunday Tribune")