Despite the heavyweight American alt-rock influences cited by the Sheffield quartet (Pixies, Pavement etc) this may actually prove to give a potential audience a false idea of how Rotary Ten actually sound as, on this debut, the band have a quality that is uniquely Britis in both its influence and its execution.. 

Imagine, if you can, that Brett Anderson, Ian McCulloch, Peter Hook and Jonny Greenwood formed a Young Marble Giants tribute band who every now and then slipped a Gang of Four cover into their set then you're starting to get into the right kind of mindset for Rotary Ten. On occasion "These Are Our Hands" is as disjointed as  the images that description might conjure up. In the main  though this is an interesting and impeccably arranged album brimming with insistent drums, sinuous bass and some of the most inventive guitar work to be heard in the genre since Messrs Marr and Sergeant were in their prime. 

Take the opening track  "Idols Of Our Own Design" as an example, its insistent driving drums and guitar intro leading into a chiming guitar led verse with a pulsing bass line underneath. This then becomes a stripped down interlude that effortlessly builds momentum into the final verse, and this kind of dynamic invention can be found throughout, excellent stuff from a very promising band.

John Lewins