Continuing the tradition of delivering powerful, melody-driven songs accompanied by surprise twists and bold production, The Handcuffs are back with their sophomore album, “Electroluv.” Recorded with Mike Hagler (Wilco, Neko Case, etc.) at Kingsize Sound Laboratories in Chicago, “Electroluv” promises a sonic adventure filled with edgy anthems; cool, sexy sounds; and radio ready songs that stick in your head and on your lips long after the first play.
Building on the success of the debut, “Model for a Revolution,” which garnered extensive TV and film placement (including "Gossip Girl," "The Hills," "Free Radio" and more shows on MTV, VH1, the CW, PBS, Showtime, A&E, and E!) college and commercial airplay, fashion endorsements from around the globe, and ongoing play at Fuse TV, The Handcuffs and “Electroluv” are poised to keep up the momentum with feature placements already in line for VH1’s The Margaret Cho show; the MTV repertoire, including the highly popular "The Hills;" several upcoming feature films; and live performances at CMJ Music Marathon and more.
The Handcuffs are vocalist/instrumentalist Chloe F. Orwell and drummer Brad Elvis with band in tow (bassist Emily Togni, guitarist Ellis Clark and keyboardist Alison Hinderliter).
PRAISE FOR ELECTROLUV:
"Fronted by sultry vocalist Chloe F. Orwell and powered by irrepressible drummer Brad Elvis, the Handcuffs came together several years ago as a duo, forming from the ashes of the local power-pop band Big Hello and drawing on a range of glam and cool pop influences from David Bowie to Blondie to Britpop. The group eventually expanded to become a quartet with the addition of bassist Emily Togni and guitarist-keyboardist-multi-instrumentalist Ellis Clark, and at long last, they're celebrating the follow-up to their debut album 'Model for a Revolution' with the release of their new disc 'Electroluv.' Hot off a number of shows at the College Music Journal Conference in New York last month and riding the buzz created by the selection of the effervescent new song 'Gotta' Problem with Me?' for Margaret Cho's VH1 series, the band is celebrating with a record release show...
--Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times
"An immensely catchy and considerably glam pop-rock record that inserts its hooks into your brain and refuses to leave."
--Matt Pais, Chicago Tribune Red Eye:
"Like bread and butter, Brad Elvis and Chloe Orwell, of the Chicago-based band The Handcuffs, work together to spread peace, passion and the power of rock with their second album, Electroluv."
--Gretchen Gaskill, Amplifier Magazine
"Not a bad tune in the litter, with the piano poundin' 'Half A Mind,' the dreamy 'Wonderful Life' and the kicky, bass-and-drum-heavy 'Baby Boombox' shining particularly brightly... Extremely highly recommended."
--John Borack, Goldmine Magazine
"The band's new album, 'Electroluv,' is just out, and rocketed into my top 10 for the year...What I like best about this album is the songs are allowed to breathe."
--Tim Cain, Entertainment Editor, the Herald & Review
"The band's sophomore album 'Electroluv' continues the band's evolution as core 'Cuffs Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell kick out teeth rattling pop tune after pop tune. Elvis' drumming is solid as ever and Orwell has finally found a voice all her own that she wields artfully. Bassist Emily Togni and multi-instrumentalist Ellis Clark build up and around that central foundation to populate an album that doesn't belong to any specific point in time. And, if you think of it, isn't that the goal of all really good pop music."
--Jim Kopeny, Associate Editor, Arts & Entertainment, Chicagoist
"Chicago's The Handcuffs release album, stay focused, remain lighthearted...oh, and get the BLURT nod of approval, too."
--Blurt's Best Kept Secret feature, Blurt Magazine
"The songs on the CD range from the quirky, catchy as a terminal cold that you don't want to cure, 'Electroluv,' with its Lady Madonnaesque guitar/saxophone attack, to the breezy, optimistic anthem, 'Turn It Up,' to the punkified pop of 'Somebody Somewhere.' 'Electroluv' delivers a smorgasbord of rocking sounds including blazing guitars, fat bottomed bass, pianos, organs, flutes, saxophones, synthesizers, vibraphones and a Hammond B3 organ. And of course the icing on the smorgasbord is the signature sweltering, velvety hot sauce vocals from Chloe F. Orwell and the glue that holds it all together, the wall of sound drumming that sounds like a stampeding herd of a thousand arms battering away at the drum kit of Brad Elvis."
--Marty Wombacher, Natalie Word Magazine
"Orwell sounds more like Debbie Harry on 'Electroluv,' walking the same line between coquettish and defiant, in a broad spectrum of styles. The new lineup includes guitarist/pianist Ellis Clark and bassist Emily Togni (although Canino and others contributed, and the resourceful Orwell adds synth, flute, sax, organ, vibraphone and guitar); the sound is less pure pop and more, dare it be said, adult. Brad's songs tend to cling to tag lines ('Half a Mind,' 'God Is Sure One Funny Girl,' 'I Just Wanna Be Free, Man,' the outstanding 'Gotta' Problem With Me?') in the choruses, but most of the ideas being ridden so hard are clever enough for it not to matter. The peppy 'Somebody Somewhere,' with distorted spoken vocals, is ferocious fun, while Orwell's 'Turn It Up' is another highlight."
--Ira Robbins, Editor in Chief of Trouser Press
"This Chicago-based duo aim for Creature's sexy style, Ladytron's rock chops and the raw energy of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs."
--Scott Bryson, CHARTattack, Canada
"Unlike some bands that settle for imitation, Elvis and Orwell know that the reason their influences sounded so good was because they kept trying new things. So they do the same. The result is yet another swell album."
--Michael Bennett, Hablo Ennui
Read more...