The key points of the new Royksopp album, 'Senior' are as follows:1. IT'S REALLY LATE. This album was announced a year ago and was due out before the end of 2009. We can only assume the delay is due to Royksopp reeling from their 'Junior' album not achieving the massive crossover success such a breathtakingly brilliant pop/dance album deserved.
2. 'Senior' is not a breathtakingly brilliant pop/dance album.
3. Instead, 'Senior' is a glorious downtempo electronic experience, which makes the perfect counterpart to the relentless pop sounds of 'Junior'. There are moments of definite ambience.
4. There will be no hit singles from 'Senior'. Taking a track away from this album is like pulling a leg off a butterfly - you'd be left with an incomplete work of art or a meaningless strand which refuses stand up on its own.
5. 'Tricky Two' is an reworked and instrumental version of 'Tricky Tricky' from 'Junior', which originally featured Fever Ray and The Knife singer Karin Dreijer Andersson on vocals. This time around there is an opportunity to appreciate the bizarre brilliance of Royksopp instead of being bombarded by her 'i'm wacky I am' contribution.
6. Our favourite track is currently 'Senior Living' which sounds like wartime misery mixed with a hawaiian beat. Consider that if you will. The guitar is, in the words of Twin Peaks' Audrey Horn 'just dreamy'.
7. The whole 'Junior' 'Senior' concept would have worked a lot better if they had released the albums together and, in the meantime, had Robyn not come along and stolen their multiple album thunder by getting three albums ready for release in 2010.
8. We doubt we will see the inevitably planned 'Junior Senior' edition which would have been the year's (either 2009 or 2010 - we're not fussy) most essential electronic release.
9. The album is released on 13 September and makes the perfect soundtrack to see out the end of summer and welcome the damp gloom of Autumn.
10. The artwork is rather dull (see below) - but the promotional images are a lot more exciting (see above).
We basically love this album. It may well replace Riceboy Sleeps as our insomnia album of choice.
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