ROYKSOPP - Norway's finest trip-hop, chilled out, electronic funksters!
Written: Sep 28 '02 (Updated Sep 28 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great diversity, chilled out sounds.
Cons: Minor point - mainly instrumental.
The Bottom Line: Moby listen and weep!
This is what innovative orchestral dance music should be about!
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| cr01's Full Review: Melody A.M. by Royksopp |
It is not without trepidation that I commence this review.
Whilst I would simply classify ROYKSOPP and their release "MELODY A.M", under the generic term "dance", I know that out there in cyber-space there are those more discerning souls who demand a more precise definition.
WHATS IN A NAME?
To this end, and to avoid looking like the un-hip middle aged porker that I actually am, I have internet researched "Melody A.M" to provide you, dear reader, with a more focused description.
Hence, I can state with great confidence that ROYKSOPP are the purveyors of "tripped out hip hop", "chilled out dance", and "orchestral electronic funk". Glad to have cleared that one up!
ROYKSOPP
The cover of "MELODY A.M" consists of a picture of a leaden sky, with the hint of a pine forest in the bottom right hand corner. Inside the booklet, a photo of our boys from the band "ROYKSOPP" (Svein Berge & Torbjorn Brundtland) pose moodily in tightly done up fur coats under another pine tree.
Could it then really be true that ROYKSOPP really do come from that desert of popular music, Norway?
MELODY A.M
"MELODY A.M" was first released in the UK in 2001 and has proved to be such a steady seller, that in late 2002 it has been reissued in the UK and launched to an unsuspecting United States public.
This is a recording that rapidly found its way into my heart. Indeed, as other reviewers have suggested there is great "chill out" potential, with lush orchestral sequences overlaid with jangling dance rhythms and beats. "IN SPACE" is a typical example - instrumental and almost clasically influenced with jazz tinges, the rhythm lends a lighter edge to the pulse of a stronger dance beat. "IN SPACE" sounds almost like the recent work by Moby, only with a more intellegent feel, and slightly less commercial bent.
"SPARKS" is in a similar style but also adds an almost industrial edge (think Massive Attack) with its metallic distorted female vocals from guest, Anneli Drecker.
Other tracks, like the largely instrumental, "EPLE" are far more lively funky affairs but are still complete with trademark swirling strings of notes. You simply cannot sit still through "EPLE". Give in, and play as loud as your neighbours allow! (and jiggle that spare tyre, no-ones watching!) Infectious, "EPLE" makes the album worth buying alone.
"A HIGHER PLACE" adds enough strange voice, and musical effects to remind one of those very strange French 70's acid (tea?) funksters, GONG, before suddenly turning into a Moby car advert backing track. These guys just love to confuse!
"SO EASY" opens "MELODY A.M", sampling a lush male chorus (singing Bacarach & David's Blue on Blue"). This sounds almost like a barber shop quartet, crooning into the backdrop, while a complex array of rhythms provide interest. Sadly however, I find that "SO EASY" quickly becomes a little repetitive after a few listens.
"POOR LENO" by contrast offers a similar repetative chorus, but its thumping beat just puts it on a different plane. The enigmatic lyrics : "Poor Leno, where you'll be, I go, Where you'll be, I'll find you", lends another errie touch. "POoR LENO" is a particular highlight of MELODY A.M.
Yet another facet of ROYKSOPPs talent lies with the frantic urgency of the instrumental "ROYKSOPP'S NIGHT OUT", and its edgy insistant beat thrusting through the early part of this seven and a half minute track, before levelling off to a pleasant funksters paradise!
There almost always has to be a duff track on an album, just to remind you that you are not in heaven, and for me "REMINDS ME" fits the bill. Almost Level 42 style 1980's white funk. I can almost picture the white suit jacket, with the sleevs rolled up to the elbow. Mindless drivel.
"SHE'S SO" drags the tempo down a little towards the end of the album, a meandering instrumental, but a sleezy and long sax solo redeems the track before its end.
"40 YEARS BACK/COME" closes this particular musical fest, another gentle but packed instrumental, consisting of two songs dovetailed together. Another inteligent piece, perhaps more reminicient of a modern composed piece - certainly no dance floor stomp, COME in particular is so chilled out, its almost horizontal!
CONCLUSIONS
MELODY AM is fairly short for a modern CD, coming in at around 45 minutes. It is suprising that there are a couple of inconsequental "filler" tracks, given its length, but overall, the supurb quality of the many highlights on "MELODY A.M" more than makes up for these.
Let "MELODY A.M" come and grab ya!
TRACK LISTING
So Easy
Eple
Sparks
In Space
Poor Leno
A Higher Place
Royksopp's Night Out
Remind Me
She's So
40 Years Back/Come
Released: 2001
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cr01
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Member: Chris
Location: Yorkshire, England
Reviews written: 438
Trusted by: 370 members
About Me:
In snowy Yorkshire. Dusting down the Sledge.
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