theyd have their work cut out for them on The Understanding. After all, Melody A.M. was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their music...
theyd have their work cut out for them onThe Understanding. After all,Melody A.M.was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their musical ...
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theyd have their work cut out for them on The Understanding. After all, Melody A.M. was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their musical tastes, with its catchy playfulness and well-crafted songs. The Understanding is less laid back than their previous album, but its no less catchy or clever. If anything, The Understanding sounds like Royksopp have spent much of the time since their last album soaking in the continental sounds of bands like Air. The result is a dance album thats surprisingly heavy on vocals, most of them by the duo themselves. But, in time-honoured dance tradition, there are also a bevy of female vocalists on hand, including Karin Dreijer from The Knife ("What Else Is There?") and new collaborator Kate Havnevik (single "Only This Moment" and "Circuit Breaker"). The Understanding is a much more grown-up album from Royksopp--its not dance music for the kids, but an album for after the kids have gone to bed. --Ted Kord
theyd have their work cut out for them on The Understanding. After all, Melody A.M. was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their musical tastes, with its catchy playfulness and well-crafted songs. The Understanding is less laid back than their previous album, but its no less catchy or clever. If anything, The Understanding sounds like Royksopp have spent much of the time since their last album soaking in the continental sounds of bands like Air. The result is a dance album thats surprisingly heavy on vocals, most of them by the duo themselves. But, in time-honoured dance tradition, there are also a bevy of female vocalists on hand, including Karin Dreijer from The Knife ("What Else Is There?") and new collaborator Kate Havnevik (single "Only This Moment" and "Circuit Breaker"). The Understanding is a much more grown-up album from Royksopp--its not dance music for the kids, but an album for after the kids have gone to bed. --Ted Kord
theyd have their work cut out for them onThe Understanding. After all,Melody A.M.was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their musical tastes, with its catchy playfulness and well-crafted songs.The Understandingis less laid back than their previous album, but its no less catchy or clever. If anything,The Understandingsounds like Royksopp have spent much of the time since their last album soaking in the continental sounds of bands like Air. The result is a dance album thats surprisingly heavy on vocals, most of them by the duo themselves. But, in time-honoured dance tradition, there are also a bevy of female vocalists on hand, including Karin Dreijer from The Knife ("What Else Is There?") and new collaborator Kate Havnevik (single "Only This Moment" and "Circuit Breaker").The Understandingis a much more grown-up album from Royksopp--its not dance music for the kids, but an album for after the kids have gone to bed.--Ted Kord
theyd have their work cut out for them on The Understanding. After all, Melody A.M. was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their musical tastes, with its catchy playfulness and well-crafted songs. The Understanding is less laid back than their previous album, but its no less catchy or clever. If anything, The Understanding sounds like Royksopp have spent much of the time since their last album soaking in the continental sounds of bands like Air. The result is a dance album thats surprisingly heavy on vocals, most of them by the duo themselves. But, in time-honoured dance tradition, there are also a bevy of female vocalists on hand, including Karin Dreijer from The Knife ("What Else Is There?") and new collaborator Kate Havnevik (single "Only This Moment" and "Circuit Breaker"). The Understanding is a much more grown-up album from Royksopp--its not dance music for the kids, but an album for after the kids have gone to bed. --Ted Kord
theyd have their work cut out for them onThe Understanding. After all,Melody A.M.was that rare electronic album that appealed to fans regardless of their musical tastes, with its catchy playfulness and well-crafted songs.The Understandingis less laid back than their previous album, but its no less catchy or clever. If anything,The Understandingsounds like Royksopp have spent much of the time since their last album soaking in the continental sounds of bands like Air. The result is a dance album thats surprisingly heavy on vocals, most of them by the duo themselves. But, in time-honoured dance tradition, there are also a bevy of female vocalists on hand, including Karin Dreijer from The Knife ("What Else Is There?") and new collaborator Kate Havnevik (single "Only This Moment" and "Circuit Breaker").The Understandingis a much more grown-up album from Royksopp--its not dance music for the kids, but an album for after the kids have gone to bed.--Ted Kord
Label / Distributor: Wall Of Sound / PIAS UK/Sony DADC
Engineer: Royksopp
Producer: Royksopp
Pieces in Set: 2
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 5028589022409
Catalogue Number: WALLCD 035X
Additional notes
Album Notes: THE UNDERSTANDING, the long-awaited follow-up to Royksopp's acclaimed MELODY A.M., finds the Norwegian electronica duo refining their atmospheric sound. On many tracks here, Torbjorn Brundtland and Svein Berge focus on more accessible pop-song structures. "Only This Moment" is a surging, Pet Shop Boys-like dance number, and "49 Percent" ventures into contemporary-R&B territory, while "Follow My Ruin" is an '80s-inspired tune, replete with funky bass and synth-drum rolls. Although the guest vocalists on THE UNDERSTANDING don't quite complement Royksopp the way Erlend Oye and Anneli Drecker did on MELODY A.M., there's still plenty to please fans of the breezy earlier album, particularly the pulsing "Beautiful Day Without You" and the gently shuffling "Someone Like Me." A departure, but not a complete about-face, THE UNDERSTANDING reveals new aspects of Royksopp, without abandoning the dreamy, keyboard-heavy aesthetic associated with the group.
Album Reviews: Spin (pp.98-99) - "THE UNDERSTANDING finds Royksopp intentionally aiming for the super-clubs....Their harder sound is still offset by softer edges." - Grade: B+ Magnet (p.110) - "The duo traipses through all kinds of post-Kraftwerk, European electronic sounds, doing Erasure better than Erasure..."
Advantages: Nordic but nice! Disadvantages: Nob-twiddling twee-ness
...established a love of Royksopp is a 'good thing' to have?Melody AM established the band as a good thing.
Before The Understanding came out I remember a reviewer said this album had so much riding on it that it ought to be gobbling coke-spiked sugar lumps prior to the 3.30 at Newmarket - (Or words to that effect!)
I think this isn't too wide of the mark.
Dance acts are notorious for difficult second albums. Look at fellow laid-back popsters Air for example.
I reviewed their amazing Moon Safari on this website, but they didn't hit form again until Talkie Walkie, several albums later.
The Understanding, like Melody AM and Moon Safarii, starts with the most haunting dittie on the album, Triumphant, with a gentle piano, simple chord progressions and more than a glancing nod to Beethoven's Moonnlight Sonata (also one of my faves!)
I...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Relaxing Disadvantages: Some tracks contains unneeded lo - fi sound
...Royksopp became very well known in whole world after their debut album 'Melody A.M'. This follow-up would fit any music lovers' collection too, I think. This album also contains one of the best downtempo tracks ever - 'What Else Is There'. Stunning vocals sung by Karin Dreijer of 'Tjhe Knife' blows your mind right away. Other tracks features Kate Havnevik ('Only This Moment') and Chelonis R Jones ('49 Percent'). This release differs a bit from their debut album - these tracks are quite more dancy, and less-trip-hop more-chillout and downtempo oriented, but you can still recall the same Norwegian style of producing and singing. In my opinion, this is a worthy follow-up and I would recomment it to any fan of the first album and downtempo/chillout in general!...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 19.06.2009
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