Electropop musicians Röyksopp excite with their new album Junior, which will be accompanied by a second full-length record, Senior, later this year. The Norwegian duo haven’t released a new studio album since 2005 and their latest foray into the recording booth is sure to please most who enjoy electronic music, as well as many of those who normally don’t.
Torbjorn Brundtland and Svein Berge formed Röyksopp in 1998 and have produced two albums together, in addition to both a live and compilation album, which have garnered impressive attention from critics and listeners alike. Röyksopp seem poised to take over the coveted electropop music scene and Junior will help make their case.
Club Songs Rule Junior
Junior’s first track, “The Girl and the Robot,” is actually pretty true to its title - with Swedish pop star Robyn on vocals and a robotic beat, Röyksopp creates a funky sound that is sure to be a club hit, as much as the album will be. “This Must Be It” and “Vision One” are good, but not great, and the opening of “Röyksopp Forever” is just beautiful with superb string work.
“Miss It So Much” is perhaps the most similar song on Junior to Röyksopp’s previous work and will probably be a big hit with fans and the club scene. The penultimate track “True to Life” has a ‘90s electronic feel to it, providing a breath of fresh air to listeners, especially those who still remember the wave of the last decade’s electronic music.
Cavemen Popularize Röyksopp
The use of their music in advertisements has been a success for the Norwegian duo and listeners have flocked to Röyksopp because of it in recent years. They are probably most notable for their music that has appeared in commercials and movies, such as the track "Remind Me," heard in a beloved Geico caveman commercial.
Yet, Röyksopp has much more depth to their sound than just commercial background noise. Those who like bands such as The Apples in Stereo, Air, and Of Montreal should take particular notice of Junior and will find many similarities in the bands’ styles. But just as electronic music isn’t for everyone, those who don’t enjoy the genre of music may be left a little disappointed.
Fortunately, fans of the group will likely not be disappointed with their new album. The record is by far one of the best releases of the year to date and will have listeners eagerly anticipating their follow-up, Senior, which will be released in the latter half of 2009.
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