Edible mushrooms - Røyksopp's third album "Junior"
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Label: Wall Of Sound
Year: 2009
Format: CD
So the slightly eclectic and fun-loving Norwegian electronic pop duo is back, with an album which according to themselves is the perfect match when you’re getting ready for a party, lathing yourself in body lotion. And they’re at least right on one account there, “Happy Up Here” blasts off with gritty, sexy and chunky electronic grooves that makes me want to rub all the lotion in my bathroom cupboard all over – or was it the part about getting me in a party mood…
The lyrics sound a bit childish in the album opener, but on the other hand just playful and it helps knowing some of Røyksopp’s musical background and approach to music production to dispel any thoughts of pretentiousness. As on their last endeavour, the team is sufficiently strengthened with a string of star guest vocalists that help create the special, memorable moments of “Junior”. People will now finally get over “Every Heartbeat” – me included – by Robin when they savour the pulsating sexyness of “The Girl And The Robot” – it just sits damn nicely as the second track of the album, promising well for the rest of the album. An evident affection for the vocal tracks can easily be confessed to, but that alone does not carry the tune, and Brundtland and Berge must be commended for their expert ability at creating excellent melodies and arrangements with enough electronics to satisfy the electronica afficinado but also retain the catchy melodious of pop to appeal to the mainstream mass market.
It’s the album tracks with vocals that indeed carry the album, most notably the pieces from aforementioned Robyn, Anneli Drecker and Karin Dreyer (of Knife and recently as a solo artist, Fever Ray). Regrettedly, the Lykke Li collaboration appeals too little to make it memorable or distinct from her own repertoire. When looking back after a couple of rounds listening through “Junior”, I hardly even remember Røyksopp’s own solo pieces – Røyksopp Forever mostly comes off like a concoction of Craig Armstrong having snuck into a session with The Herbaliser Band for a jam session. Overall, Røyksopp seem to have matured their sound with their third album, but it’s less daunting than their debut Melody AM and less diverse than The Understanding and feels like they have centered on the pieces that worked well in their sequel, but there is little innovation as the duo return for their third musical offering which is probably bound to please their fans, gain them some new ones but not stand out remarkably from their repertoire.
Web links:
Official Røyksopp website
Røyksopp at myspace
