Song: Röyksopp - The Drug
RӦYKSOPP - SENIOR
If only every decent electronic musician/group would release an album every year and a half, I would be a very happy man. We haven’t seen much of Ed Banger Records, Warp or XL for a while unfortunately, but it’s all been going on at Astralwerks and Ninja Tune. The former release this offering with Wall of Sound records, from Norwegian mellow masters Röyksopp today (Monday 13th September 2010), a sequel to last year’s ‘Junior’ album, suitably called ‘Senior’.
This is an instrumental masterpiece which is mostly formulated from bits and bobs from their Junior sessions. It is a real example of how their sound has matured since debut Melody A.M., and the innovative techniques the second half of the noughties brought about into the world of electronica.
Track 1 is an excellent intro into an excellent album, including surface noise like that of a record player when the needle hits the vinyl. The backward sounds and the deep bass is wonderful. Track 2 variates ‘Tricky Tricky’ off of Junior, called Tricky 2 here. The guitarry sounds and syncopated synths compliment the exciting speed of the song, I am reminded throughout this album of magnificent multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells II, but mostly in this track. Track 3 ‘The Alcoholic’ starts suitably with the metal clink of a can opening. The melody is catchy and the harmonies pleasing. Track 4 ‘Senior Living’ sounds dubby and dreamy, starting in a minor waltz and ejecting into a mellow yet emotional euphoria.
Track 5 ‘The Drug’ starts slower than the others (with a ascending and descending space-like sound) but when the lead comes in it sounds like a clubber’s favourite. The syncopated thirds and ascending oscillator sounds, oh it’s so wonderful. The Norwegian boys have put a lot into this. Track 6 ‘Forsaken Cowboy’ sounds suitably western with its shuffling drumbeat and twangy guitar. There’s a fantastic minor - major - minor key transition in the chorus. Track 7 ‘The Fear’ starts like Nino Rota’s ‘Godfather’ theme! It then goes onto sound like some computer game background music. Not one of my favourites from the album but it’s still pretty good. I didn’t think the album could get any mellow and melancholy, but the penultimate track ‘Coming Home’ stoops to a new depth, in a good way. To finish off, track 9 ‘A Long, Long Way’ is really creepy with no sure key and some revolving chimey sounds that don’t really go. It makes me feel everything is in slow motion, but doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album. Ending with low-pitch sounds like that of a vehicle trying to start, I can see how it could sound good on its own, and am reminded of Brian Eno and perhaps Radiohead’s Kid A.
I can just see all the remixes appearing now, and perhaps reworkings by rappers. Well produced and a more than adequate following to their last. An enjoyable 47:50 of my time, it can be of yours too. Recommended for listening during an essay-write or a reading sesh…9/10 Röyksopp, gjennomstekt! (well done!)
