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 havent 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 theres plenty here to recommend, Berge and Brundtland arent able to break the spell. NOTE: The limited edition version of the record includes an all-new 5-song B-Side EP. –Matthew Cooke
Pitchforkmedia
8.1 out of 10
Editorial Reviews
On their 2001 debut, "Melody AM," Norway's Torbjorn and Svein Bergem of Royksopp raised the bar of downtempo electronica with such tasty confections such as "Eple," "Sparks," and "So Easy." But on "The Understanding," they just simply want to make you dance. The grooves are harder, edgier, and darker than what we've come to expect, but the sound is still very much Royksopp. If you're looking for a chillout disc, this ain't the one. It's a radical departure from its predecessor, so fans should be warned and proceed with a degree of caution and an open mind. A welcome surprise is "49 Percent," which hits you hard with a stuttering beat and an unexpectedly soulful vocal from Chelonis Jones. It's easily one of my favorite tracks. "Sombre Detune" and "Someone Like Me" helps give the disc a funky edge. Other standouts include the lush and ambient "Dead to the World," while "Beautiful Day Without You" is a classic piece of synth pop. Every song here is good, except perhaps for "Alpha Male," which unfortunately wears out its welcome within 4 minutes of its 8 minute running time. Beyond that, it's one of the most engaging electronic records of the year. Comment | Permalink | (Report this)
