“Strikes the perfect balance between thoughtful melancholy and exuberant dancefloor beats”
ORKUS
“Intelligent electro of the highest order, enriched with thought-provoking lyrics 9/10
SIDE-LINE
“Blends great tunes and soundscapes with elaborate lyrics”
REFLECTIONS OF DARKNESS
“The mix of danceable beats, profound lyrics and innovative sounds makes the album one of their strongest”
BLACK GENERATION
“A crisp album with a sharp sound, like a darkly goth Pet Shop Boys”
ORGAN
“They zone in and hit their targets with a rare accuracy, again and again”
AURAL AGGRAVATION
“Slowburn synthpop sitting in equanimity with club-driven electro. Recommended”
I DIE: YOU DIE
“Rotersand have not just made a great album – they’ve made a necessary one. A beautifully sculpted paradox, dressed in combat boots and existential dread”
CHAIN D.L.K.
The German dark electro-pop duo Rotersand have released two singles in the last month, with ‘It Was Night’ issued on 5th September and ‘Train’ today (3rd October). Already available on the CD format of their critically acclaimed new album, ‘Don’t Become The Thing You Hated’, both have now been added to the digital version.
Preceded by two other singles, ‘Private Firmament (I Fell For You)’ and ’Sexiness Of Slow’, the album is as much a cultural critique as it is a musical statement. In a world increasingly defined by division, alienation and existential anxiety, Rascal Nikov (vocals, electronics) and Krischan Jan-Eric Wesenberg (electronics) cast a sharp eye on the psychological toll of our times and issue a warning. The message is clear: in fighting what we oppose, we risk becoming it ourselves.
Musically, the album is a masterclass in synthesis, melding sonic sophistication with visceral emotional impact. Navigating seamlessly between intricate sound design and tightly constructed rhythmic frameworks, these are layered with melodic hooks that are as intellectually engaging as they are dancefloor-ready. The overall soundscape is dark yet resolutely hopeful and explores a dynamic spectrum of styles, from propulsive electro with surgically crisp beats and brooding industrial textures to anthemic, almost dreamlike interludes. Each track reveals itself as a meticulously crafted entity, constantly surprising the listener yet never straying from its emotional nucleus.
The song lyrics address themes of disillusionment, anger and the fragile line between resistance and complicity. Indeed, the album title itself functions as a thesis statement that confronts listeners with a central dilemma of our era – how do we oppose injustice without replicating its methods or mindset? Rotersand offer no easy answers, but instead encourage a kind of inner vigilance; a conscious rejection of the very forces that threaten to erode empathy, nuance and individual integrity.
What sets ‘Don’t Become the Thing You Hated’ apart is its rare ability to operate on multiple levels. Not only a compelling club record, it is also a philosophical commentary on the state of the world and the psyche. The duo have crafted a work that challenges the listener to not only hear, but to think and feel more deeply. It reaffirms their position as one of the most thoughtful and forward-looking acts in the entire dark electronic music genre.