Is This Music?
"Mancunians Roger are a band with many influences as can be heard in their
live sets, but "Hand in Motion" merges a few of these - elements of The
Beloved and Human League are most obvious, but with vocals and ear for a pop
tune owing a debt to the Pet Shop Boys. The Electroluvs, who themselves have
a few electronic ghosts in their cupboard, bring out a few unfamiliar ones,
the spirits of DAF for one on this release as "NSD"'s electronic vocals
merge rather nicely with the female humanoid ones."
www.isthismusic.com
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Rough Trade
"Debut release on Manchester's Stolenwine Records is a tough electro split
single. Roger deliever more 3 minute sleazy manc electro which has a strong
Depeche Mode and Soft Cell feel. The Electroluvs are driving Scottish
electro pop with trademark pissed off vocals. The missing link between Pac
Man and the Human League."
www.roughtrade.com
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Drowned in Sound / Miuzik
"Gloomy electropopsters Roger and Scottish synth duo The Electroluvs all on
one nifty record. A match made in heaven! Needless to say, expectations were
running sky high for this single. And, disappoint it does not! First on it's
Roger's 'Hand In Motion', a spheric electronic affair with a tad of Human
League. Very nice indeed. Enter The Electroluvs! 'N.S.D' starts off with
what sounds suspiciously like a dentists' drill (ouch!), before turning into
a lovely keyboard-y tune, complete with 'aaah-aaah' vocals and handclap
drums. And, of course, a lunatic voice looming in the background. In short,
this single is a fantastic piece of synthpop and everyone should get a copy
NOW!" [Julia Vergho]
www.drownedinsound.com / www.miuzik.com
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The List
"Spare a thought for The Elevectroluvs (sic) and Roger who between them on
their split single (Stolen Wine (sic) 2/5) can only manage OMD on a budget,
minus choruses and humour. Now that is some kind of achievement. The
soundtrack to wiring yourself into the mains." [Mark Robertson]"
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This is Not TV
"A healthy start for Manchester's newly born Stolenwine Records with a split 7" between TINTV favourites, the Finnish/Manc duo, Roger and Glasgow's The Electroluvs. The first in a series pairing new talent for willing ears.
"'Hand in Motion', a luxurious tribute to onanism, is everything we've come to expect from Roger. The rich, plummy tones of Teemu Metsala bolstered by Andrew Odia's twinkling electronica as they wind their way through another haunting slice of synth pop. Roger have something very special indeed, though whether the public gets to hear it now that the disastrously hyped Fischerspooner have ruined everything by revealing the whole electroclash thing to be a tedious and short lived joke is another thing. Roger somehow manage to make everything I hate about the pointlessly arch Ladytron sound totally loveable and for that I salute them.
"The Electroluvs' 'N.S.D.' by coincidence is the sound of Mark E Smith forcibly infiltrating Ladytron. Their sound is positively ferocious when held up for inspection beside the delicacy of "Hand in Motion", though that doesn't mean a great deal, so would David Sneddon. The track's synthetic onslaught is just as admirably discomforting as Roger's, its pounding angles and muttered threats (if they're not threats they definitely sound like them) a suggestion of blood on the drum machine.
"A treat for those who desire a little electronic nausea in their lives." [Adam Farrer]
www.thisisnottv.co.uk
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Manchester Music
"Matching the Anglo-Finn partnership of Roger, with Scottish silicon sorcerers The Electroluvs is no mean feat and this double headed slab of Czech acetate is the ultimate clash of digital vs. analogue in both music and format.
"Roger’s 'Hand In Motion' is a more cheeky brand of sparkling electro pop, with a wonderful 80’s wobble and plenty of bleep’s, bloops and circuit buzzing harmonics. There’s some lush strings leaning against a rusty, sequenced, bass line which just seems at home with the crisp, sweet, but almost metallic vocals.
"If you will, imagine A-Ha spread over a bed of Visage and early Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode. There’s even a chip of Jean Michelle Jarre lending a soundtrack to the Karova Milk Bar in Clockwork Orange, which makes the whole plot quite spicey but sweet. Quite unmissable.
"Glasgow’s The Elecroluvs, not only have a great name but a more moody, industrial view from their synthesisers. Again there’s some classic influences, but its definitely more Kraftwerk, Cabaret Voltaire and maybe even the more melodic but robotic sentiments of John Foxx.
"It’s more harsh than the Roger track, with plenty of post modern clatter and grating guitar links. The vocals chant, more than sing, to an almost monastery backing line of 'Ahhhh'.
"Both tracks from north and south of the border celebrate electronic music as though the chip was never invented. The sounds are as analogue as possible, harking back to the days of manual tuning and transistorised electro mechanics.
"Welcome to the world of Dr Who rock n roll and tracks that really do seem for real and which are nothing less than essential." [JA]
www.manchestermusic.co.uk
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Piccadilly Records
"This limited edition split 7" from new label Stolenwine presents two tracks of electro synthpop from North of London. Manchester / Helsinki duo Roger continue in their impeccable, nu-millienal Pet Shop Boys arc with another fine tune. Singer Teemu Metsala'a delivery sounds magic over a plonky Human League backing, produced by rising star Danny Webb. The Electroluvs are part of Scotland's burgeoning electroclash scene and here mix beats with Television punk in a fantastic manner. This is cool as fuck."
www.piccadillyrecords.co.uk
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City Life
"Alas, not quite the joyous synthesis of 'Hand in Glove' and 'World in Motion' the title suggests, but the track where Roger finally go all Parental Advisory on us with an ode to the pleasures of (cover your ears) tossing one off. The referentially titled 'Hand in Motion' takes the same rippling electro-pulse soundtrack which made their other EPs such a winner, but crucially adds extra muscle and girth for those who found their previous deadpan wispiness a touch trying. Until Stubbsy from the Pylon strips off for Attitude magazine, this is as enticingly sleazy as Manc electro gets." [David Sue]
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