The Understanding

by Roeyksopp

Overview

When the Norwegian production duo Roeyksopp dropped their first album, Melody A.M., it sounded as though they were on a stopover from another planet. Otherworldly samples and a crisp production sense combined to make the singles "Eple" and "Sparks" perfect examples of the downbeat form and near-ubiquitous inclusions on chillout compilations. As electronica artists from Biosphere to Boards of Canada had proved before them, a life away from the mainstream -- say, in the extreme northern climes of Europe -- is capable of freeing an artist from the demands of trendiness. Their second album, The Understanding, reveals a different focus -- fascination with all manner of radio-ready European pop. Yes, Roeyksopp is all grown up now. In their quest for maturity (as well as the ears of busy shoppers all over the Northern Hemisphere), the duo changed their distinctive sound in the process. The single "Only This Moment," a post-connubial duet between male and female, could perhaps have heralded the comeback of a middle-aged Aqua, while on "49 Percent" the duo struggle to emulate Underworld's "Pearls' Girl" (while a bewitching vocal from Chelonis R. Jones rescues them from the brink). Nods to synth pop (Depeche Mode, Soft Cell) and disco (Moroder) simply accentuate the mood that Roeyksopp have little left to say aside from what others have said more clearly in the past. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	07/11/2005
Label:	Wall Of Sound Uk
UPC:	5028589022416
Rank:	75694

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Triumphant
2. Only This Moment
3. 49 Percent
4. Sombre Detune
5. Follow My Ruin
6. Beautiful Day Without You

Disc 2

7. What Else Is There
8. Circuit Breaker
9. Alpha Male
10. Someone Like Me
11. Dead To The World
12. Tritesse Globale

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Roeyksopp   Primary Artist,Vocals
Svein Berge   Primary Artist
Chelonis R. Jones   Vocals
Kate Havnevik   Vocals
Karin Dreijer   Vocals
Kato Adland   Bass
Ib Kleiser   Guitar

Technical Credits

Roeyksopp   Audio Engineer,Audio Production,Composer,Producer,Performer,Arranger,Mixing
Torbjorn Brundtland   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Svein Berge   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Chelonis R. Jones   Composer
Kate Havnevik   Creative Input
Karin Dreijer   Composer
Olof Dreijer   Vocal Engineer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Camille Vivier   Photography
Sven Berger   Arranger,Producer
Sanghon Kim   Artwork