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THE REVIEW
Yay, an album that no one has reviewed yet! Strange, but oh well, let's start.
The success of "Melody A.M." had catapulted them into the big world of the music business and even to perform at the MTV music awards (big deal, even Mariah Carey went there). The obsession with the catchy melody of "Eple" repeated ad nauseam and a couple of other well-crafted tracks had captured not only my attention but also that of the public and specialized magazines. The second release from the Norwegian duo (?) entered our local stores without much fuss; it's certainly fair to wonder why.
The Understanding does not bore and manages to deliver truly great emotions even to those who aren't exactly fans of the genre like me; starting with "Triumphant," simply splendid, which for a reason I cannot grasp, reminds me of Thom Yorke's "Spineless Laugh" in Exit Music towards the end. It continues with the masterpiece, which unsurprisingly, is the lead single: "Only This Moment." Sweet words of love whispered over a breathtaking keyboard base; later, the piano will continue to take center stage. Having reached the peak at the beginning, the album proceeds smoothly, highlighting the continuous riff of "Sombre Detune," "Circuit Breaker," and "What Else is There," which the journalist from Tutto (an iconic but unfortunately defunct magazine) I remember had called the worst of the album. Slightly below average perhaps is "49 Percent" and the track that closes the album: too beautiful a melody to waste as a mere outro.
Interesting is the collaboration with various artists who sometimes appear in some tracks, although I continue to appreciate Berge and Brundtland more when they take hold of the microphone themselves. I recommend both this and the previous album, and depending on your reactions, I'll decide whether to review it... thanks for reading.
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Summary by Bot
This detailed review praises Röyksopp's The Understanding for its emotional resonance and well-crafted songs. The album delivers captivating melodies, especially in tracks like "Only This Moment" and "Triumphant." The reviewer appreciates the duo's distinctive style and collaborations, recommending the album to both fans and newcomers to the genre.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Röyksopp
Röyksopp are a Norwegian electronic music duo formed by Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland, active since the late 1990s. They are known for melodic electronic productions spanning downtempo, synthpop and electropop, and for tracks such as “Eple” and “Only This Moment.”15 Reviews
Other reviews
By Giubbo
If all commercial music were like this, I'd be fixed on Radio Deejay even when washing the cat.
'Only This Moment' is radio power at 100,000 Watts, musical persuasion capable of entrancing even a conservatory student.
By GK
This Norwegian duo has created a masterpiece, and it is right to expect a sequel!
I am in ecstasy. I curse myself for even remotely daring to think it could be a flat, useless, second-rate album.
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
The singer’s voice is magnificent, and their sound is truly something exceptional.
It’s the most emblematic electronic group after Depeche Mode.
By Toni Bancae
"One of the major strengths that make this album fantastic from many points of view is the variety between one track and another highlighted by frequent sound changes."
"The Understanding remains a complete album from a sonic point of view where Röyksopp demonstrate they are one of the best groups in the world of electronic music in recent years."
By Darius
Worthy successor of Melody A.M. and a cunning agreement between experimentation, avant-garde and “pop”.
The Understanding still sounds today, in a virtually DJ-laden sound scenario, an “underground” disc, a small underground treasure box crafted in an environment that doesn’t seem much inclined to hits but rather to the good production of good producers.
