In 2002, the Norwegian duo of Svein Berge and Torbjorn Brundtland found a sweet spot between wispy Moon Safari-style pop and Boards of Canada-like atmospherics on the widely-admired Melody A.M. The Understanding sounds rel... more »atively absent-minded, careening around the room like a panicky fly. Some of it works well; the bouncy "Only This Moment" resembles Fischerspooner at their silliest (and thus, most fun), while "49 Percent" gets a huge lift from a New Jack vocal courtesy of Chelonis R. Jones. But the record is too often thwarted by syrupy synth-pop ("Follow My Ruin") as well as the lack of shifty downtempo rhythms and avant-garde underpinnings that kept Melody so pleasantly grounded. They haven?t lost their knack for subtle hooks and well-placed cross-rhythms, like the slippery keyboard squibble that glides its way into "What Else Is There?" But the sophomore curse is hard to overcome, and though there?s plenty here to recommend, Berge and Brundtland aren?t able to break the spell. ?Matthew Cooke« less
In 2002, the Norwegian duo of Svein Berge and Torbjorn Brundtland found a sweet spot between wispy Moon Safari-style pop and Boards of Canada-like atmospherics on the widely-admired Melody A.M. The Understanding sounds relatively absent-minded, careening around the room like a panicky fly. Some of it works well; the bouncy "Only This Moment" resembles Fischerspooner at their silliest (and thus, most fun), while "49 Percent" gets a huge lift from a New Jack vocal courtesy of Chelonis R. Jones. But the record is too often thwarted by syrupy synth-pop ("Follow My Ruin") as well as the lack of shifty downtempo rhythms and avant-garde underpinnings that kept Melody so pleasantly grounded. They haven?t lost their knack for subtle hooks and well-placed cross-rhythms, like the slippery keyboard squibble that glides its way into "What Else Is There?" But the sophomore curse is hard to overcome, and though there?s plenty here to recommend, Berge and Brundtland aren?t able to break the spell. ?Matthew Cooke
CD Reviews
How do you say "funky" in Norwegian??
Sakis | San Diego, originally Greece | 07/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Royksopp who hail from Norway are back with a great new and eagerly awaited second album.
Break-beats and retro-funky rhythms are at times more prevalent in this album without the band having lost any of the dreamy qualities of their previous release. Where the previous album was hypnotic and more abstract, this album is more focused on compact continuous melodies and a more retro-fururistic sound (New Order come to mind). Don't get me wrong though, the unique cinematic and playfull Royksopp sounds are still alive and well.
The opening instrumental track "Triumphant" starts with a piano riff that made me think i was listening to a solitary pianist expressing his mellow angst rather than a pop song that i'd expect Royksopp to produce,later on the opening track incorporates some more more instruments that signal the start of this album's experience, the song almost reminds me of the start of a stroll basically, it has a cinematic quality. It's just tough trying to explain Royksopp's music anyway.
"Only this moment" which is the second track is an absolutely brilliant track and the best in the album in my opinion. The beats are playful, and the sensual vocals (both male and female) add a very unique warm vibe to the song. It's a truly unique song and in a perfect world should have a heavy MTV or radio play rotation (i'm sure in Europe it will have it's chance, but i'm focusing on the bland airwaves of the US as a sad example). I definitely turn the volume way up on this one.
"49 Percent" is a poetic track that has a drum roll and some aetherial echo as a background, it's a track that slowly builds up to a euphoric climax. Very cinematic, very optimistic, very spring-like. I like it alot.
"Sombre Detune" leaves me uninterested (pretty much the only song in this album that had that effect on me), so i skip this one, it's just an instrumental track that just doesn't go anywhere in particular. The constant "ah ah" sounds really don't add much and i think the song would have been better off not been included in the album.
"Follow my ruin" is a nice pop song, retro sounding at parts, a bit 80s and a bit reminiscent of DaftPunk, it's got nice male vocals , similarly, on "Beautiful day without you", where we experience a very nice laid back sound and a nice conitnuous narative of whispering and laid back vocals (that fans of their hit "Poor Leno" might like).
On "What else is there" Karin Dreijer's voice brings Cindy Lauper to mind, with a very interesting track. A nice pairing of pained and yet dreamy vocals with a low electric guitar that appears here and there and a signature beeping backround sound that was prevalent in the first album, it is the 2nd best pefrormance in this CD i think the end of the song reminds me of clocks ticking and having a chill out sleepy symphony all of their own. I wish there were more of her singing vocals on this CD.
"Circuit breaker" is a cool and fast paced electronic romp, it has a quick beat, yet the background is a nice warm low humm that evokes two different moods while the vocals are quick and breathless, the female vocalist's soothing melody adds a very nice and dreamy touch to the song towards the end.
"Alpha Male" is an epic instrumental track, it's a bit like following a ride through a labyrinth of sonic and lush electronic sounds to get to the end of a destination. A bit like a little story to a soundrack for an adventure only you can imagine with your eyes closed to it.
"Someone like me" is another mellow yet groovy song, i love the clapping sounds that add a bizarre gospel element to the song. Retro 80's in sound, yet with warm, smooth whispering & soft male vocals.
"Dead to the world" could easily be music composed for underwater sea-diving documentaries. Very dreamy, very soothing angelic and aetherial. Sleepy vocals add an angelic element to a mesmerizing chill out track.
"Tristesse Globale" is a muffed piano driven instrumental track that's a nice closer to CD 1.
CD2 has some excellent instrumental tracks and a very very nice vocal track (track 1 called "Go Away"),that i am surprised they didnt' include on CD1. It's worth it really to fork out the extra $$ and buy this 2 CD release, since all 5 tracks on CD 2 are really excellent and quite different. The insrumentals here are exremely playful , adventurous and have lots of great electronic beats.
Overall, a great new release that didn't dissapoint me while at the same time evolves the band's sound, so we don't get a repeat of the debut album. I look forward to seeing the band perform again Live. They are trully excellent in concert and much more upbeat Live. Until then, i have this new double release to enjoy and get acquainted with."
Pure Norwegian Bliss...Get the repeat button ready!
Alan Taylor | Chicago, IL United States | 08/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I originally heard of the Norwegian group Royksopp when visiting Amsterdam. I had MTV Europe on in my hotel room (MTV Europe actually still plays music, what a concept!) and I saw the video for "Poor Leno" and was instantly hooked. Of course, when you hear a song so instantly infectious to your ears, you think, how the heck can they possibly follow this up?
The answer is "The Understanding," an absolute gem of a disc that builds on the bands beginnings and takes their music one step beyond, creating swirling cinematic melodies coupled with beautiful, emotive, yet understated vocals. The first single and video, "Only This Moment" is sublime. (Be sure to check out the video online at the Astralwerks website.) The song is plaintive, emotional, melancholy, and at the same time "funky", albeit in a Norwegian Electronica sort of way.
I have had this disc for two weeks and it has yet to leave my CD player. Call it electronica, dance, downtempo,or whatever you like... this music is gorgeous and cinematic. Music based in electronica can sometimes be cold and inaccessible, but Royksopp know how to put emotion in their music. Royksopp's music is rather hard to categorize... Let's call it "Norwegian Bliss".
Note: The limited edition 2CD set is worth the extra few dollars! It includes bonus tracks, mainly instrumental, unavailable elsewhere."
Chilled Vocal Album
Mr Science | Honduras, Cental America | 09/18/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Undestanding is a great chilled vocal album, and precisely that is what makes it different from Melody am. This guys are pros, you won't be dissapointed by the vocals.
This one is (i'd dare to say) an experiment from royksopp on the vocals. You'll listen a female and male vocals with nice lyrics throughout the album.
In my opinion they did very well with them! Even though you might expect a less vocal album, i guarantee your satisfaction.
4 traxx on this album are rated 5stars on my media player, but the track i just can't stop listening to is 49%. It's a continuos (something like soft drum & bass) build up during those 5:12min. Excelent male vocals and very touching lyrics.
Melody AM did not had as many vocals as The Understanding, keep that in mind before buying this album."
The understanding of why different could be mediocre
Gabriel Patten | Moscow, Idaho | 08/03/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Fist of all, Royksopp's newest album "The Understanding", does not suck by any means. It is a great album that shows the musical duo's depth. It also shows their ability to evolve and make a sound that is entirely unique (just like with their first album.)But just like with evolution, there is always something that gets left behind. In the case of The Understanding, it seems as though the older, raw, retro-synthish, old-skool electro-popish Royksopp that we all came to love so much, grew up and matured into something that we arent sure how to deal with. Maybe I will learn to love the new evolved Royksopp as much as the old one, hopefully. But I dont think I could ever give up those days of listening to Melody A.M. on vinyl,,,,,,,ahhhh how nostalgic! But hey, dont think that the new album is not worth picking up, any true Royksopp fan needs it....So check it out, and maybe you will see that I was wrong!"
Excellent, but unexpected
Stanley D. Wolfersberger | Ohio | 07/30/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Melody A.M. album is one of my all-time favorites. Something about it transcends any particular genre, and I find that I can listen to it in the company of other electronic music, pop, world, classical or jazz and it just feels... at home.
The Understanding is an entirely different story. While some tracks sound "characteristically Röyksopp," many sound like they're by a different duo altogether. That's not to say the album isn't fantastic, but the sound wasn't quite what I was expecting. I agree with those who label this album as a little more "pop" or a little more "dance" than the "electronic" label of Melody.
The bonus tracks are interesting, but not really all that exciting (at least after listening to them all twice through). Choosing between this and the standard album (with its more appropriate CD-insert booklet) should be the hardest part for you. Definitely pick this up."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1