With a masterful debut EP in their 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 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.