There is a saying that all good things come to those who wait and that’s certainly true of the new Royksopp album 'Senior'. After 18 months the wait will be over on Monday (13th September) and it really has been worth it.
As the title suggests, this album is a more mature, almost experimental in feel offering from the Norwegian pair who have come a long way since 2001’s 'Melody AM'. At times sparse and brooding, at others euphoric and joyful 'Senior' will be a welcome delight to electronic music fans the world over. From the moment the opening strains of '...and The Forest Began To Sing' quietly fade the album awake until the empty spaciness of 'A Long, Long Way' fade away this is an album that holds your attention – not by being brash and in your face but by the exact opposite. The nine tracks weave through each other and counteract each other nicely with, at times, echoes of Kraftwerk, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton and other greats all done in Royksopps inimitable style, albeit a more grown-up, adult version.
The full tracklist is:
01 ...and The Forest Began To Sing
02 Tricky Two
03 The Alcoholic
04 Senior Living
05 The Drug
06 Forsaken Cowboy
07 The Fear
08 Coming Home
09 A Long, Long Way
On listening to the album for the first time something strikes you unexpectedly... There are no vocals. At all. I first noticed this when I realised Tricky Two (yes, it’s a reworking of “'Tricky, Tricky'!) had finished playing and I hadn’t heard any vocals – so I played it again but no! The odd thing is, the album just doesn’t need them. 'Tricky Two' conjures up mental images of dark, wet motorways, 'Coming Home' drops you right into the middle of a summers meadow, 'The Alcoholic' has just the right amount of sway, 'A Long, Long Way' sounds like a lonely radio transmitter crying to itself, need I go on? As a lover of electronica I must admit to having had quite high expectations for this and, after one listen, I wasn’t disappointed. But no-one ever listens to an album only once so I played it through again and was pleasantly surprised to hear bits I hadn’t the first time. Subtle touches of strings, almost silent atmospheric beds, minimal drumlines and little twinkles here and there just add to the maturity of this album – and to it’s listening pleasure!
This is an album that you’ll fall in love with instantly – but will then grow on you from there. Be warned, this is a perfectly conceived and brilliantly executed album. Both clever and fun it will, without doubt, be huge.
Royksopp have grown up – and don’t we know it...
Royksopp's 'Senior' will be released worldwide on September 13th 2010 through Wall Of Sound Records and digital download.
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The full tracklist is:
