Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Forgettable synth noodling.
Repetitive, mind numbing, boring. Not bad music, just not for me. Royksopp’s Night Out was nice for a minute. Then it kept repeating itself.
I'm not the biggest fan of moody electronica w/ little to no vocals but this was a pleasant surprise. It's very relaxing and put me in the mood to work on a puzzle
This is a hard one to reviews, because I really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if it deserves a place on this list. It's low tempo dance music that is best served as background music, which after a long day today was exactly what I needed so I could zone out a bit. But does that make it a good/great album overall? I'm not so sure. 3.5 conflicted stars, rounded down to 3*
Better than most of what I've been hearing.
This is an album where a smokey filled jazz bar enters a world of synthesized sounds exploring futuristic smooth melodies. "So Easy" opens up things with a decent bass beat and drifting cloud like vocals. It's followed up with spacey electric cords in "Eple." However, the loop felt repetitive and old after a bit. The mood setting slow jam of "Sparks" brought keys tickled slowly eliciting sensual notes. The static sound of a record spinning in the background gave it a nice touch. Compared to the wonderful collection sounds, the vocals were only okay. The playful plucking of "In Space" was a joy. The trance induced melo drifting party continued with Poor Leno. Bring the quaaludes. The next track "Higher Place" didn't really take me to a higher place. Röyksopp's Night Out was an elongated journey with building beats. There's something there, but there is something off. All the computer beeps feel misplaced. The rhythm in background beats feels like someone getting a busy signal but waiting as is someone will pick up. It just stretches on too long. However, there was something budding with the jamming guitar chords. The track "She's So" has a great combination of a guitar jam session with great drums and saxophone meeting electric synthesized sounds and beats. The song, and most of the album, is like the computerized world of TRON and their version of a smokey jazz bar.
Fun instrumental
Beautiful
This album's so chill I'm baffled by reading any description of it being 'warm.' It's definitely inviting and friendly, even with its mysterious edge, but it's cold as hell in a great way.
Roykslopp 😭 Jk this is just if weather channel music was made for the club (not derogatory).
Very cool album, beautifully produced and composed electronica.
Great music for the chill out room and perfectly Composed but background music for em
Meeeh
woah really loved that last track
I was first put on to this when a good friend emailed me the music video for "Remind Me" - as a file attachment since YouTube wasn't invented yet. Then I bought the CD and it lived in my car and was on permanent repeat for years because the glove box was small and could only hold 3-4 CDs and this had to be one of them. This brought back so many happy memories. Early Röyksopp was a wonderful thing and they continue to be a treasured part of my life.
I liked this one.
Found this pretty disappointing. I don't really like how any of it sounds, it was just a bit boring, and I usually enjoy downtempo. I even feel like I was in the right vibe for some good downtempo, but things like the vocals were especially annoying when present. The synths and things were just a bit crap to be honest. Nothing actively bad aside from the vocals, just boring and a waste of time when there are much better albums with this vibe.
Pretty good
This album must have done wonders for waiting room, elevator, shopping centre toilets and yoga studios background music. I’m sure this was revolutionary for its time with the sampling and sounds, but it does sound somewhat dated and I can’t hear it without hearing the generic synths of a yoga studios retail section.
Decent to listen to and has nice chill vibes, but does start to get stale as the album goes on. Solid for a couple songs, but not something I'd ever revisit on the whole. Top tracks: So Easy, Eple, Sparks
I am not a fan of electronic music. I normally find it repetitive and dull. This album was repetitive but not dull and was perfect to listen to while I ran 5miles after a stressful day.
Nice, but not supernice
This is ok, but it does drag on a bit. Background music, really.
3.3
I’m 3/3 on the vibe-y albums today. I had a lot of fun with this one. Röyksopp’s Night Out was the real winner for me; I was almost disappointed when there were vocals on the following track because it just took me out of the experience.
I am a huge röyksopp fan and have been since first hearing their trembling hearts remix of clocks by coldplay (a song seemingly sadly lost to time or a least absent from streaming services today). However I much prefer their later albums to this one (Junior and The Inevitable End especially), which definitely sits at the more chill ambient end of the spectrum (I believe quite a popular place to be in the early 2000s) and so while some of these songs sounded nice, they didn't grab me. I think it also is because they went heavily into dancier and synthpop kinda sounds as well as collaborating which such a roster of amazing Scandinavian singers later on. Eple is kinda cool and the remixed version of Remind Me is enjoyable. A little listening list of key Röyksopp moments (for me all significantly better than anything off this album): What Else Is There (original + Thin White Duke remix) featuring Karin from the Knife Do It Again featuring Robyn!!!!!! (all time fave) Running To The Sea featuring Susanne Sundfør (another all time fave) The Girl and the Robot, This Must Be It, You Don't Have A Clue off the Junior album Anyway they are so cool as a duo and I'm glad they're on the list
Nice stuff. Will be used in the background while I’m at work.
i wike it
Now I am an electronica fan, but this was a great album. Eerie, atmospheric, exciting, lovely, and fun all at the same time. Not too much distraction or repetition but a clean consistent sound. No 20 minute tracks either. Really enjoyed a
Not bad, but are we sure this needs to be on this list?
kinda fw this
not bad but i wouldnt add to playlist
7/10
Magical.
4.8/5 - Aside from a couple lyrical songs which I didn't dig as much as the rest of the album, this album was pretty cool.
Poor leno goated
Fine for some background music I guess.
It was chill.
Royksopp more like Pleasestopp. Mindless and completely forgettable.
Ok this was cool. I was thinking about learning German and then we got this assignment! So I was ready to hear it
Just some damn good electronic tunes all around. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 5. I mean, there’s not much to say. It’s a really well produced album, especially for 2001. This feels like a mixture of the trancy vibes of “Music Has The Right To Children” with a bit of plunderphonics sensibilities thrown in to give it a faster, more upbeat & dance-y feel. Not quite Daft Punk necessarily, but something that feels like it could blend in well if you threw it into a DJ mix. All 10 tracks here just feel great in the ears, with a solid variety of peppier & dour stuff to paint the picture of a lot of different potential mornings. I do think this album’s biggest struggle is not necessarily having a throughline to each track that gives them a bit more connectivity, but it doesn’t matter that much. Overall, I just happened to really enjoy it. The arrangements still feel a little futuristic & nostalgic at the same time, and I was pretty captivated for the entire 45 minutes. It’s just an easy set of tracks to melt into, and with each having their own distinct tones, I imagine everyone would have a different favorite after listening. That’s the mark of a good album experience for this genre, and I think it’s one of the better ones in this space we’ve gotten as of late. It’s an easy 5.
Is it weird to say that this sounded like a robot porn soundtrack?
eh, i can see how this album is liked - however, electronic music isn't my style. 2/5
Perfect accompaniment to work Where tf have I heard Eple before, I know like the whole thing The sax in She’s So makes me feel like I’m falling straight into Twin Peaks
Did initially think from the first track I might actually quite get into this but I don’t really feel like it went anywhere that much, wasn’t bad though 3
Apresenta algumas construções melódicas interessantes e opções vocais agradáveis, mas nada que possa acrescentar de importante. Regular!
Chill beeps and boops. The low tempo beats kind of remind me of Fatima Yamaha, but I don't know much about electronic music so that's probably heresy in some way. Did I enjoy it? Kinda? It's good background music, but didn't do much to pull me in. Some songs were also kinda boring. The first two are definitely the showstoppers, but I couldn't tell you what about them is actually. I just vaguely remember that I liked them more than the rest. This could be due to the fact I only got like 4 hours or sleep, or because this record is an undefinable mass of beeps and boops. Regardless: 7/10. Lean more towards good than bad, so I'll give it 4/5
A chill electronic album, it builds a constant nice background music that still has plenty of interesting features when you start to focus on it. Great when you're just going about your daily things, but also ideal if you really want to listen to some great music
This was pretty funky and fun
so boring..
Do not care
3.5
3.0
Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Good - So Easy sets the vibe nicely and Eple continues in a very similar vein. Nothing too crazy is going on but it's music that you can comfortably nod along to. Sparks and In Space are decent as well. Poor Leno has some vocals that I'm not overly keen on but the instrumental more than makes up for it. A Higher Place is nice but Röyksopp's Night Out was a bit dull. The album peters out a little towards the end but it was an enjoyable listen.
Jeg har alltid hatt et ambivalent forhold til downtempo. I tillegg har jeg hatt et ambivalent forhold til Eple og til dels So Easy. Derfor har jeg aldri gitt denne skiva en ordentlig sjanse før idag. Og vet du hva? Digger det. Til og med de to første sporene sitter.
Oppdaget Röyksopp da "Happy Up Here" kom ut, og da hadde jeg en ting for 8-bit-lyder etter å ha fått oppheng i "Girl" av Beck. Samme låt gjorde at jeg ble langt mer mottakelig for Karpe da de slapp "Toyota'n til Magdi". Uansett, Röyksopp slapp Junior og jeg kjøpte CD-en. Jeg hørte også på "Eple" "So Easy" og "Poor Leno", men det var Junior som var lyden av Röyksopp for meg. Det tok mange år før jeg var voksen nok for Melody A.M., og etter det har jeg nok gått til den når jeg har vært i humør for litt nordisk elektronisk musikk. Å digge "A Higher Place" og "Röyksopp's Night Out" var det som gjorde at plata falt på plass for meg, men jeg føler jeg ikke har tatt steget helt inn, fordi jeg fortsatt sliter litt med "In Space" og "Remind Me". Sånn sett er Moon Safari med Air et langt mer tilgjengelig album for noen som primært har digget rock. Men det gir meg lyst til å sjekke ut om Junior sitter like godt som det gjorde for 15 år gamle meg. Og Senior, som jeg aldri har kommet gjennom fordi ambient aldri har vært for meg, kanskje nå?
4/5
3.5! Solid.
Melody A.M. Röyksopp 2001 Genres: Electronica Styles: Downtempo, Trip Hop, Leftfield, House, Ambient 1. So Easy (★★★★★) -Contexto: Una introducción atmosférica y sensual, construida más alrededor de la sensación que de una historia concreta. Evoca una noche tranquila, íntima y algo misteriosa, con una actitud despreocupada. -Fav 2. Eple (★★★★⯨) -Contexto: Instrumental y luminoso; no cuenta una historia específica. Su melodía transmite ligereza, optimismo y una sensación casi juguetona de movimiento y descubrimiento. El título significa "manzana" en noruego. 3. Sparks (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Una canción de tono íntimo y melancólico sobre la atracción y la cercanía emocional. Las "chispas" funcionan como imagen de esa tensión romántica que aparece entre dos personas. 4. In Space (★★★★★) -Contexto: Instrumental que busca transmitir suspensión, distancia y contemplación. Más que hablar de algo concreto, parece representar la sensación de flotar en el espacio, aislado y observando desde lejos. 5. Poor Leno (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Trata sobre la búsqueda de alguien que se ha ido o está perdido. El narrador expresa que seguirá a Leno allí donde esté, dando a la canción una mezcla de afecto, añoranza y determinación, aunque la música sea luminosa y bailable. 6. A Higher Place (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Instrumental que sugiere elevarse o escapar hacia un estado diferente. No desarrolla una historia explícita; funciona como una transición hacia algo más intenso, abstracto y expansivo. 7. Röyksopp's Night Out (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Un recorrido instrumental por una noche que se vuelve progresivamente más intensa, oscura y extraña. Tiene una estructura cambiante que transmite movimiento, tensión y la sensación de perderse durante una noche de fiesta. 8. Remind Me (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Habla de una persona que necesita que otra le recuerde las cosas que olvida y la ayude a orientarse en su vida cotidiana. Debajo de esa situación aparentemente trivial hay una dependencia afectiva: la otra persona se convierte en una especie de referencia para no perderse. 9. She's So (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Trata sobre la fascinación por una mujer que aparece como sensual, misteriosa y difícil de alcanzar. La canción transmite deseo y admiración más que una relación concreta, con una atmósfera nocturna y casi cinematográfica. 10. 40 Years Back / Come (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Cierre instrumental, abstracto y nostálgico. Evoca la sensación de mirar hacia atrás, alejarse de lo vivido y finalmente volver a la calma. Funciona como el amanecer después de la noche que recorrió buena parte del álbum. -TOTAL = ★★★★⯨ (4,20)
It's a vibe. Sometimes a bit long but still really good.
I have listened to this nostalgic masterpiece one million times and I will be listening to it yet again without hesitation.
It’s not banging but it’s creative and pretty chill and easy to listen to despite of that. Also SSX3! 7/10
2.6/5
Really nice chill beats. Never heard of these guys before so will be checking out more. Would give 3.5 if I could!
Qvartöld síðar er Eple enn jafn gott, og hin lögin eru nógu áheyrileg, og oft ágæt, til að ég hendi fjarka á þetta Scandidanspopp.
Atmospheric, translike beatifull album. 1. Poor Leno 2. Eple 3. Sparks
Interesting release date Anyway, today marks the two year anniversary for my musical journey. I'm sad I only have a year left(until the bonus round of user albums that is). Well, what better way is there to celebrate my anniversary than with *another* Electronica album that generated on a weekend? The pattern continues! Apparently, I will spend my weekends jamming to mid tier techno music that belongs in a dance club. Favorite Track: "A Higher Place".
# Album Name: Melody A.M. # Artist: Röyksopp # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Quality album. Very chilled and laid back with some quality tunes. Not a "best of all time record" but very good. # Top Tunes: Easy / aple / sparks / leno / higher place / remind me # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Good, listenable Electronica album. Different enough to be interesting and to be distinguishable from the MotR joints, without being too weird.
I wasn't really prepared to listen to this tonight, but recently I've been struggling to find albums to listen to that would be interesting for me, and so this one caught my eye. I wasn't really expecting it to be instrumental, but it ended up being a very nice soundtrack to me finishing one of my prep assignments before I move out. It's been a pretty stressful time, but this was a really calming and enjoyable album. Those Europeans really know what they're doing with the whole electronica thing. Favorites: In Space, A Higher Place, 40 Years Back Come
Lovely album.
One of the dance albums that crossed over so well to a more rock audience. This and Air/Zero 7 etc I put all together. Nice music and good for chill out.
Wall Of Sound WALLLP027 (UK) vinyl rip: The original "beats to relax/study to." Perfect for a Northern European rainy day. Favorite tracks: "So Easy" and "Röyksopp's Night Out"
some really nice tracks and some kind of nice tracks and some completely forgettable tracks. and a geico commercial track. 3.5 highlights: so easy, eple, poor leno, royksopp's night out
Every time I see a top review grumbling about being on hold, I know I'll like it. And give it five stars to offset the bias against music with no/limited lyrics.
All of us who like electronic music are very lucky, this album is a masterpiece. Perfect album for studying, working or just chilling
The soundtrack that is playing in the robot factory whilst robots are making new robots (whilst humans starve and burn in wildfires outside the factory). After their week-long shift (without breaks), the robots take their Royksopp CDs home and place them carefully upon their coffee tables next to Moby and the Buena Vista Social Club, dusting and polishing the plastic cases so that when their robot friends come for dinner, they can admire their impeccable taste in music. A heartwarming view of the future - and possibly the only realistic scenario in which the world hasn't actually been destroyed by rogue AI by 2030.
Feels cultured in jazz and ecstasy. I dig it. Learning they’re Norwegian, which tracks!
Very good. Love me an instrumental electronic album
Extremely fine. Nothing really memorable
seems to be a precursor to the "chill vibes" of "focus" spotify playlists. feels like shorthand for modern architecture, technology presentations, boutique hotel lobbies, and cool cafe's from the early 2000s
Boring, repetetive, slow
La verdad lo escuché hace como una semana y hoy no recuerdo absolutamente nada de él, solo que no me gustó y que me pareció excesivamente raro, y no en el modo padre de raro.
It wasn't bad... but I don't see if/why it's significant.
82
Mix of solid ambient and dance electronica. Pretty good.
다채롭고 몰입감 좋은 전자 음악. Melody A.M.이란 제목이 좋은 느낌을 줌
A nice surprise. I remember when royksopp appeared and the song poor leno and I hated it at the time. I was not looking forward to this but my ear has developed and actually enjoyed the listen. I still did not like poor leno but the album as a whole is good
I had heard many of the singles from the album but never the entire album. It was quite Pleasant and I will definitely be adding it to the the Shuffle.
very nostalgic, and this is the first time i've ever listening to this record. Definitely recognise a few tracks that really remind me of a particular era
it's chill but not very interesting
Beeps and boops in different order
This is a truly unique electronic album, I really haven't heard anything else that sounds quite like it. It's a rare case of using so many super interesting and unconventional sounds, the ideas within the music itself are great, and when it's all put together the execution is fantastic too. Listening to this genuinely felt like being transported into a different world, like the musical equivalent of a science fiction film, which very little music is really able to capture that vibe like this does.
Be-boop, be-boop
Very, very pretty. Really enjoyed this.
5/10
Chill, mellow trip hop beats to walk back home to in the middle of a summery night. I love this type of music. Production is great, I'm not as crazy about the vocals but luckily they don't appear on every track. The beats are constantly evolving, the amount of detail here is really admirable
It’s pretty good - I knew of the first couple of tracks (So Easy and Eple) and Poor Leno, as they were played everywhere back in the day. The tracks with the female vocals are nice. I am not really into electronic music but this is quite okay. I do not like it when things get too repetitive though.
Some of the songs do drone on a bit long for my liking, Otherwise it's an good easy-listening record. 3.5/5.0
More electronic music...terrific. Nothing like some trip hop to get me in the mood to...hang out with people I only pretend to like because they are cooler than me/can get me in places I couldn't get in/have good drugs/are super attractive women? Royksopp's Night Out is awful. This is not a good album but probably checked a "Band from Norway" box for the editors of the list. This song takes forever and it's techno so I have no idea when one ends and another begins so I thought the second half of Royksopp's Night Out was a different (better) song but it's just a better part of the same one. Remind me is familiar from something...but it sucks nonetheless.
A vibe (3.5ish)
Music reviews are a wierd thing. How does one gauge someone elses art? I see a lot of reviews on here talking about how something being influential is incredibly important or how it is critically admired and using those metrics to influence their own review. Often times I see people write a review of something they clearly did not like but 4 or 5 star it based on other peoples opinions.... Poppycock, these reviews are MY opinions based on what I just listened to and what it made me feel/think and in this case this shits boring. I hope whomever this influenced they made something better. This isnt bad by any measure, its just boring.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/royksopp/melody-a_m/ Chill downtempo album with every now and then a song that picks up the pace. Nice Erlend Oye features that made me go back to Whitest Boy Alive albums right after.
Beautiful! The more I listen the more I find to love. Every song feels distinct in mood while still contributing to that calmer overall vibe. I can see why some people might say one or two songs are repetitive. Me I like a da beep boops perfect length
Buns
Added one to the gym playlist
Dull AF
19/07/2026 Surprisingly I actually knew some of these songs. I shouldn't have judged them by the cover. Spotify listeners: 2.5 million
Album started off pretty strong with So Easy and Eple, but afterwards it fell off for me. The songs just blended together too much and weren't that interesting. I gave it a 7 in the end.
4/5
Sei que é bem feito mas eu não gosto desse ritmo
What if EDM sounded like my alarm clock fading in to wake me gently in the morning?
"Eple" "Sparks" & "Poor Leno" are the stand out tracks, but this album suffers from what many (mainly) instrumental albums face, multiple songs serve as forgettable generic background noise. Some good moments on the album, but a bit unbalanced.
Huh, this is an interesting one. I quite enjoy it, the laid back energy of it is quite engaging for most of the songs and i like the textures they create, though the first half was much more alluring to me. I just oddly do not like the tracks with vocals, i think they are subpar and don‘t add anything to the listening experience. Especially on Poor Leno (which i find a bit out of place on here with its neo-disco beats) they are a detriment to the overall song.
Who doesn't love a bit of Norwegian electronic music? Röyksopp have always felt like a slightly unique proposition, so I was looking forward to finally giving Melody A.M. a proper listen from start to finish. There are moments on this album that are genuinely beautiful. It's peaceful, atmospheric and evocative, creating a mood that is easy to lose yourself in. One of its greatest strengths is that it works equally well as background music and as something you can sit down and properly engage with. At times it drifts along gently in the background, while at others it grabs your attention and pulls you into the emotion and feeling of the music. The production is excellent throughout, with warm synths, subtle melodies and grooves that feel timeless rather than dated. There's a calm confidence to the album that makes it a very easy listen, and it never feels like it's trying too hard. Instead, it creates its own world and invites you to spend time in it. That said, by the halfway point some of the tracks do begin to blend together a little. The atmosphere remains consistent, but the individual songs become slightly less distinct and memorable than those that open the album. Overall though, this is a great electronic record and one that has definitely made me curious to explore more of Röyksopp's catalogue. Favourite tracks: The opening two tracks, "So Easy" and "Eple", are absolutely superb and set the tone brilliantly for the rest of the album. Least favourite tracks: Around the middle of the album things become a little samey. Tracks such as "A Higher Place" and "Röyksopp's Night Out" are enjoyable enough but don't stand out in the same way as the earlier songs. Album artwork: Cool album cover that fits the album's chilled, understated atmosphere nicely.
Oh this brings me back. I only know about this band because my Dad heard one of their songs on a Geico Caveman commercial and spent months tracking the song down trying to figure out the band. Once he figured it out he told me about them and a few of their albums were basically on repeat for a few years. I haven’t listened in a long time but it still holds up as an entirely unique sound. The song from the commercial was Remind Me BTW which is on this album. 10/10
we're fairies floating through the forest.
Great to hear again. Tailed off a bit at the end.
The first two tracks were excellent, but the rest was pretty forgettable.
This Norwegian electronic duo was me over today. What a vibe. Was on the edge of a panic attack, took my meds, put on this album, and found it to be very grounding. She's So especially.
An album that’s tasty to the brim even tho it’s real ambient nature of it. Some real great tracks about.
Look, this album is very ambient and chill, which may not be some people's forte. For me, the interesting but subtle sound works really well. I've been a massive Lo-Fi fan, and this is nowhere near as good as that, but it's a great interruption from all of the psychedelic rock we get on this list. Good on you, Norwegian lads (even though your country's food is awful).
Hell yeah this is both creative and fun.
Quirky Norwegian electro-pop. I wasn’t familiar with these guys apart from a few remixes they had done of other people’s stuff. This is a pleasant listen, nothing too outstanding but nothing offensive, either. Good background music for your retro dinner party, perhaps.
eh
Really groovy!
When I saw that Röyksopp was described as an "electronic duo," I expected to have to sit through an album of repetitive EDM-style music. I was pleasantly surprised. Their sound actually reminded me a bit of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks soundtrack.
No standouts
Nice and chilled. Couple songs with good ideas dragged a little long. Rather listen to Portishead.
beep boop beep boop
Was this recorded at an R2 convention? With all the Boop Beep Boop whistles, it sounds like R2-D2 chatting away to Yoda.
Electronic music is not my genre, but I actually quite like this. Poor Leno, Röyksopp's Night Out. I'd listen again.
I still dislike 90s/00d electronica
As electronica goes it was fine I guess. Not memorable though, I don’t remember anything the next day.
Another unnecessary beep boop beep album.
Aggressively pleasant music. As far as the techno/electronic stuff I've heard on here, this is one of the better ones. It's good music to zone out to while working. That said, I also zone out to a lot of other types of music while working so I doubt I'll be coming back to this. It gets a 3...liked it, respect it, glad I listened to it but probably won't come back to it.
Had no expectations with this, pleasantly surprised. Great background music to put on.
Nice.
it was okay but unmemorable
Man this is really nostalgic, some of these tunes were used commonly in early 00's British television and it's like revisiting a dusty old storage room in the back of my head
Hell yeah! This was good stuff
Enjoyment: 4/10 Replayability: 3/10 Cohesion: 7/10 Flow/Pacing: 3/10 Artistic Merit: 5/10 Weighted Average: 4.25/10 Review: Another cool experimental album, but this time the highs were not so high and the lows were lower than I hoped, which didn't leave much room for the neutral space in between. Overall, there's some funky and fun sounds, but again, very repetitive making it difficult to want to listen this over and over. Liked Song(s): Eple, Poor Leno, Remind Me Disliked Song(s): A Higher Place, Röyksopp's Night Out, 40 Years Come Back Recommend? Maybe Heard Before? No
I liked this a lot!!
This is a good album, not great. Very chill, kind of bland even but not in a bad way. I loved 2009’s Junior and the split album they did with Robyn, even saw them together. Remind Me is a great tune.
How fucking dare you, 1001 albums list! How dare you! To even call this music is outrageous. This is the worst DIY schlock I have ever heard! There are so many albums that I did not “need to hear” before I die but this is, so far, the only one that makes me think death is the better option. If I heard 1000 5 star albums prior to this garbage and this was the the 1001st, I would still disqualify the entire list. (Not a fan)
nah
This had its moments, but it never really took off. It's a chill listen but that's all I can say about it, really.
I've been listening to a lot of soft, electronic at work lately and have heard several albums that outclassed Melody AM. It's definitely not bad, but I think there are some better albums to choose from.
Liked a bit of this but pops and fizzles a lot more than I'd like. Chill but not extraordinary
I liked this
This is the kind of lo-fi music I put on to get work done, but not something I would sit and listen to on its own.
legit XTRA fit. hm
Really enjoyed this
Started strong but my attention was drifting by the end.
# Playlist Track - So Easy # Notes - Really enjoyable, but does not have momentum to carry an entire album. The first few tracks are great tho!
boring h&m crap, how this was ever considered cool or interesting is totally beyond me. admittedly charmed by the Arthur Russell-biting Remind Me, but it can't save how shit the rest of this is
It’s a much better listen than the other techno record I listened to this week by Fatboy Slim. Solid Background Music
Para renacer
06/28 Pretty good album. Was surprised to find out one of the songs from SSX3 was from this one
This album should have stayed in the google drive Junkie Hipster cafe/ elevator music Some songs might be a 2 if JayZ was on there RöykSLOP: 1/5
Eple lowkey a banger though
Bra bleeps, samt bloops.
Eget och toppen sound!
Skön stil, konstig stil, lite upp o lite ner men det växer o växer!
Röyksopp, kul! Eple, vilken banger!
Boring. I have yet to hand out a 1. I know it’s coming, but not today!
Nice, but I prefer Zero 7
Very interesting style
Beepboop and move on
Yeah it’s fine. Electronic music in general is not really my thing. I find it all very similar and forgettable. 3/5
Nicely produced, easy listening, but probably won't listen again
Its giving Scorpios beach club.
Very cool. I will listen to more of their stuff!
Very good
It's always interesting to see how music people categorize early electronic music. Is it dance? Not really. It's not ambient either. It's its own thing for sure. But in any event it's definitely music I like waking up to. Highlights: Eple, A Higher Place
😟
One of my favourite recent discoveries. Incredible variety, the tracks get very creative with the way they progress. The production is interesting and layered. The only weaker part of the album comes right at the end, which is a shame, but isn't too detrimental to the entire listen. I really came to love electronica as a genre in the last couple of years, so I'm always happy to add another great album to my collection. Favourite track: Poor Leno
heel chill, ook echt vaag
blip boop its roykslop
Bangers, ahead of its time for sure.
This one was actually a really good way to follow up Neu as my previous album! More electronic of course, but it's in the same direction of being hypnotic and all. And honestly, I liked it better than the Neu album we get here!
Best een leuke listen, maar niet super boeiend, denk dat ik dit vrij snel vergeet
Ik kende dit niet, maar dit is echt vet
Love Röyksopp. Heerlijke vibey electronica.
Hypnotic and chill
Well enough ok.
discovered downtempo
Eple
I discovered this pair on a compilation CD of downtempo tracks in the early aughts and have enjoyed them ever since. I think they were much bigger in Europe - which makes a lot of sense when you hear them. But totally dig this. Groovy. Not too serious. Loved it.
Moderately enjoying this vibey album when suddenly I am hit with the song from the first GEICO Caveman commercial. Iconic. Yeah, it’s fine. Pleasant enough. Listened to it a couple times. Doesn’t inspire a lot of excitement because it’s so kinda chill.
Interesting and a little weird. Oddly relaxing. I preferred the funky-er stuff. Really, it makes you feel like you're in some futuristic noir film. Like a soundtrack to something you can't place. "She's So" was my favorite track. The added saxophone set it apart.
beautiful album! favourite: she's so
Very fun and somewhat odd electronic album. I really like the twinkling sound design in some of these tracks such as "Eple". They just bring a joyous a playful energy to the table that is really infectious. Key tracks: So Easy Eple Poor Leno
One of my least favourite criticisms is ‘I could have done that. ‘. Well why didn’t you? In this case, not only can I do it I have. I challenge anyone to sit at a synth and not come up with this type of stuff. At least Eno is interesting. This is extremely dull. Maybe it gets better. But I couldn’t finish it. 0 stars.
Q Magazine yet again. Epie popped up on one of their amazing cds which led me to the album. While the rests is probably not as good in terms of melody, it is still a very good listen.
I always confuse Royksopp and Sigur Ros, so I was a pleasantly surprised to find this poppy electronic album rather than orchestral. gibberish singing, post-rock (which I don't really care for). This is pleasant but slight. It's at its best when it is most uptempo, but it struggles to maintain its energy level. It's tasteful dinner party music. Better-than-average quality phone hold music. Dentist office music. Car commercial soundtrack. 'Sparks' is like Temu Portishead. But I like the cover art. 2.5 stars, rounding up
I found this more enjoyable than a lot of the electronics I have generated but I liked it less the second time I listened to it. I think I’ll give it a 3 and see if it starts growing on me. I added “Epie” to my playlist.
Melody A.M. is an album that sounds exactly like it's cover. Röyksopp's chilled out trip-hop beats with occasional bleeps and bloops, funk basslines, and strings is an absolute vibe. In some ways ambient, but there's enough going on for it to not totally fade into the background, the variety of sounds, tempos, and styles is greatly appreciated. I was originally introduced to Röyksopp through hearing "Remind Me" in a Geico commercial, and in the 20 years since, I still catch myself humming or singing it on occasion. I really should listen to this album more. Mostly instrumental, but the album truly shines on tracks featuring vocals. "Poor Leno" is a banger.
Instant crush
For sure in my top 10 Norwegian electronic albums of late 2001. Also, caveman.
Another one I do not agree should be considered a T1001 album, I'm basically at an 80% No ratio right now. I am convinced I will create my own T1001 list when I retire and have the time to dedicate, I hope you all will join me and provide biting feedback and the occasional praise. It's got a decent listener count and tracks like "So Easy" and "Eple" top out at 44M and 70M respectively but did this break new ground in 2001? No, but it's an enjoyable album. Must hear before I die stuff? Nope. "Eple" is the catchy highlight, I had it on an electronica sample disc back in the day so it's one I know. "Röyksopp's Night Out" is fun, but it's about 3 minutes too long. Songs like "Sparks", "In Space" and "She's So" have no soul, it's just bland background music and the boring factor drowns it out. The rest is enjoyable background music but you won't hear anyone saying "dude, throw that killer Röyksopp album on again". 3 stars for vanilla-ness but with a few decent grooves added in.
very trippy! great music for background
Unfortunately suffering from way too strong a start. So Easy and Eple are classics. Once again though this is an album with well known songs and then 'the rest'. It was interesting to give it a proper listen but I don't think I'll be revisiting it. Remind Me does make think of (might even remind me har har) Cascade by Floating Points so I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't at least partly an inspiration. Highlight: Eple (with the intro from the end of So Easy). Honestly those two songs are twinned in my head. Also Impossible by Royksopp is a banger but that's just as an aside.
Opens with two classic songs, then sadly the rest is forgettable.
A little bit lofi beats, a little bit of dystopian jazz, a little bit of Geico commercial, but all vibes.
Fun album! Nice to hear something outside of the UK/US.
Nice to listen to in the background while working but not something I would necessarily choose to actively listen to. That being said it sounded nice!
This was alright. The vibes were cool, but not really my genre. Three stars.
Good chill disc, except for the songs with vocals.
Pretty solid for chilling.
No se ni que decir, es como ross tocando el teclado en friends (Poor Leno si que me gusto igual) 4/10
whoops rated this on the wrong account (i accidentally made two) gonna give it four stars again lol
Vibes man summer vibes. This was a fun listen for when youre in that simply vibes mood but idk if i would listen to it regularly. Still a good time
Enjoyed most of this
early 2000s norwegian electronic music. boy oh boy, do i have a lot of good to say about this one. simply delectable. marvelous. if i was stranded on a deserted island and i could only choose one downtempo album to bring, it would be this one. i love electronic music where you get lost into. like you turn it on, put headphones on, and the entire world is a blur. it's just you and the music... repetitive beats, bips and beeps all around your ears... it's super relaxing and energizing at the same time! it was honestly a little hard for me to pick a favorite track... but holy fuck is it up there with one of the top ten albums when it comes to 2000s electronic. like it's up there with daft punk's discovery.
experiência mttttt boa. amo qd finalmente acontece.
Going up? 3rd floor....housewares, lingerie, sleepwear....
Wat een heerlijke plaat. Dit is muziek als een Italiaans gerecht. Door elke beat, elke synth, elke zanglijn en elk kraakje zo nauwkeurig uit te kiezen en vorm te geven, is dit een schoolvoorbeeld van hoe je met heel weinig ingrediënten een trippy plaat maakt die ontzettend gelaagd en diep klinkt en tegelijkertijd fris en krokant blijft voelen.
precies aant trippen op lsd, iconic
klinkt als veel drugs + synthesizer + autotune
I mean its pretty decent downtempo but its hardly a revolutionary, genre-defining must-listen.
Enjoyed!
alas, another album that holds a fond place in my heart because of the cozy time/place in my life i was introduced to it
This took me a few sessions to get all the way through but it wasn't bad, just not compelling to me personally. Fine. Wish it was a bit More.
Not my personal fav
good album has a folk dance kinda vibe
3.5
Приємний альбом. який залишає приємні, але не сильно яскраві враження. Сьогодні ранком переслухав. Спокійна електронна музика, яка іноді заходить на територію фонової музики і все одно якось з неї вдається вирулити. 3.5.
Коли я був малий, то дуже не любив коли кліпи Röyksopp показували по ентер мьюзік чи ще десь, бо мені не подобалось, а крутили їх часто. Зараз от послухав - нормальна музика наче. Без якогось захвату, але норм.
Norjalainen klassikkoannos Röökisoppa on mukavaa nautittavaa.
Kovinkin orgaanista, rentoa, kiireetöntä, viipyilevää, mutta kuitenkin pohjimmiltaan maittavaa konemusaa. Röyksopp on tuoreemman tuotantonsa puolesta tutumpi, mutta herättää kiinnostuksen koluta muutakin tuotantoa läpi kun upposi sen verta hyvin tämä levy.
Vaikka bändi on nimenä tuttu, ei oo ikinä tullut heitä kuunneltua. Toka biisi ”Eple” olikin jo enemmän kuin tuttu ja suosikkini. Hienoja äänimaisemia.
There is a clear A-side and B-side on this album.
kept it going in the background while studying. liked it but it is more like something you would listen to in the back
Seemed cool but I wasn’t in the mood for dance music
Not my type of music. Sounds good but dont like this.
i've listened to this in full years ago, and have definitely heard Eple dozens of times over the years. still, it's been a while. i'll listen again for rating purposes So Easy - 4/5 Eple - 5/5 Sparks - 4/5 In Space - 4/5 Poor Leno - 3/5 A Higher Place - 3/5 Röyksopp's Night Out - 3/5 Remind Me - 3/5 She's So - 3/5 40 Years Back / Come - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ meh. it's alright. personally, the momentum kinda dies down after the first 4 tracks, but it's not the worst music ever. i really only come back to this for Eple anyway so most of the other tracks are just underwhelming in comparison
Oddly, was listening to a lot of electronica at the time but never got this. Starts very strong.but does descend to bog standard downtempo. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No 75/300 (25%) Will I get: Maybe
I’m not into electronic music as a rule but I like techno-influenced pop music like Moby and Fatboy Slim and trip hop like Portishead and Massive Attack and and down-tempo electronica like Air, so this could have worked for me. I think the line for me is that - while I like an album to have songs that repeat themes and mesh together somewhat - the album has to have songs that I can tell one from another. Even with jazz with no vocals where the songs are called “Jelly Roll Blues” or something, I don’t need to know the song name, but I need to be able to go “Oh yeah, this is the one that goes “Ba Ba ba BAH ba Ba ba” and be able to differentiate that one from the other songs on the album. The album can’t just be 45 minutes of hold music. I need songs. But because I’m a Goldilocks, the songs have to mesh and be connected somehow if I am going to love the album. But that is extra. The first job is for the album to have songs that I can tell one from another in some way. You do that and I may like your album. Then turn those individual songs into a song cycle, while still maintaining their Individual distinctiveness, and I may love it. I am glad to have made this realization about my preferences and to have articulated it. Oscar Wilde probably didn’t say “Self-discovery is the secret of life.” But the internet says he did and I didn’t take even five seconds to verify whether that quote was accurate but I’m out here doing self discovery. I like songs and now I know that about myself. Good job me. This album is alright.
Enjoyable listen. Great background music while I work, just a bit boring.
Decent album, easy to listen to, though nothing at all stands out on this one to me. Not a complaint, I actually like it, and if I'm looking for something in the relaxing electronica genre this fits the bill.
3.5
Continues the very U.K.-centered nature of the 1001 albums list in that it seems only people in the U.K. were interested in this when it came out about a quarter century ago. Still, a nice electronica album that I'm not sorry I've now heard. Doubt I'll be coming back to it anytime soon, though.
I will never not associate Royksopp with that one Geico commercial where the caveman was riding the moving walkway in the airport. And that's something of a shame because their music deserves better than that in my mind.
good electronica album
Love it. Saved.
chill like that
Pretty solid electronic album. Favorite track(s) A Higher Place Remind Me
Good. That first song has a killer bass line I should learn. Listened at work and didn’t pay a ton of attention
Starts with Blue on blue bobby vinton! Stereolab without vocals, which is nice. Chill. Sample vocals
Really enjoyed the vocal tracks. The instrumentals were a bit too ambient for me but enjoyable too. Very good album.
Fajne. Ja bym dał 4
Right up my alley
Totally fine Euro-pop. I have no further statement at this time. Except for the fact that Royskopp and The Knife are two different musical acts, which is one thing I learned from this list.
I fully enjoyed this. It was a nice break from the rock-bands-I-know-I-should-appreciate-more-but-mostly-just-sound-like-the-music-that-came-just-before-the-stuff-I-actually-like. It was just weird enough to sound like it didn't come from the US, which I also appreciated. I've added this to my library and plan to come back to it.
I mostly know Röyksopp from their work with Robyn, and that's apparently how it should be, because I think this album is...fine. Like a lot of chill electronic music, it quickly fades into the background for me, which is why I prefer bangers like "Eple" and "Poor Leno." I added those to my running playlist, but I don't anticipate revisiting this album. Hit me up if they work with Robyn again, though.
It is background music. Once again not sure why this album is on the list.
Background background background
I quite enjoyed this. Maybe I just like electronica more or it just fit the sort of gloomy day, but whatever it was I was vibing with this. Maybe the fact that it's Norwegian instead of some stupid British wanker who thinks they're the stuff.
another middle of the road, background music that I will forget tomorrow.....
A solid album to listen to outside on a beautiful spring days.
Not bad as background music but not my cup of tea
A little bit of it was OK but as a whole album it was boring.
Interesting album. Parts of it definitely felt like I was listening to a movie soundtrack. It was easy to listen to while I worked, but little caught my attention.
I was surprised how much I like this!
So easy, even a caveman can do it
Pretty chill. Compared to a lot of shit I receive on here, this is a good listen. Low 4
REALLY liked the variety here, even heard a friendly, lo-fi face. easy 5 for me
BIG fan of this one very cool, like an ancestor to övningsköra
Fantastic. Really catchy Melodies, and the intercut vocals across the track set a great tone
Pleasant, unremarkable. Disposable.
It's fine. Surgery music
Enjoyable but not outstanding
Shoutout to the geico cavemen 🙂
Kinda funky electronic. I liked it
2.5
What an album, love this. Banger.
Album 183. Melody A.M. (https://open.spotify.com/album/4WOZU9evfEO7eI6ICsoGN0?si=RY7CR14kRUWfm4JyM_Jcyg) — Röyksopp (2001) Nice and mostly calm electronic music. Nothing was added to the playlist, but I enjoyed the listen. 3/5 No liked songs
Had moments of shine and moments of mundanity. More interesting and engaging than some of the trance albums on this list. Definitely feels foreign. I may or may not come back to this kind of unsure at the moment.
In the land of electronic music, it wasn't bad. But again, it's electronic dance music and it only get so good I'm afraid. But this sat in the background and didn't beg me to turn it off.
I bought this album at the time. It was at the fore-front of what turns out to have been a couple of decades of scandi-obsession in the UK. Scandi-noir, hyyge etc. It’s varied. It’s fresh compared to the vast majority of stuff being released at the time. A welcome breath of fresh air.
High 4, love this sort of stuff. The first half was much better than the last, although every part of this was good regardless.
thought the name sounded norwegian n yep it is! älskar norge, mina grannar<3 pretty good, rly interesting, not rly my taste tho
Festlig
Some good moments, but not a fan of the vocals
amazing
I'll search for detailed information about this classic album to provide you with a thorough review. # In-Depth Review: *Melody A.M.* by Röyksopp Released in September 2001, *Melody A.M.* is the debut studio album by Norwegian electronic duo Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland. Recorded largely in their living room in Bergen with minimal equipment—an Akai sampler, a simple mixer, and a reverb unit "nicked from a radio station"—the album became one of the most influential electronic records of the 2000s, bridging the gap between underground electronica and mainstream accessibility . --- ## Production & Sound Design The production on *Melody A.M.* is defined by **analog warmth and intentional limitation**. Rather than pursuing a polished big-studio sound, Röyksopp embraced lo-fi constraints, using outboard gear they'd owned since childhood. This approach forced creative decisions that give the album its distinctive character . The sound palette is remarkably diverse: chunky basslines, phosphorescent synth chords, rippling harps, squiggly acid-house bass lines, and even mournful saxophone ("She's So") all coexist within a cohesive sonic universe. As Berge explained, they drew from "progressive rock and country music and R&B as much as Detroit techno and deep house," blending these influences without making the references obvious . Sampling plays a crucial role. "So Easy" lifts from Bobby Vinton's "Blue on Blue" (via a Swedish cover), "Eple" reimagines Bob James' "You're As Right As Rain," and "A Higher Place" borrows cosmic sparkle from Jean-Michel Jarre's "Wooloomooloo" . These samples aren't gimmicks—they're woven into entirely new emotional contexts. --- ## Lyrics & Vocals *Melody A.M.* is **not a lyric-driven album**, but its sparse vocal contributions are deployed with surgical precision: - **Anneli Drecker** (of Bel Canto) delivers the album's most haunting vocal on "Sparks," singing *"It's those tiny little sparks / In daily life that makes me / Forget my wounded heart"*—a moment of fragile, wounded optimism over lush bass and airy guitar . - **Erlend Øye** (Kings of Convenience) appears on two tracks: "Poor Leno," where his yearning delivery of *"Where you'll be, I'll go"* transforms the song into dancefloor gold, and "Remind Me," where his detached observations (*"A woman holds her tongue / Knowing silence will speak for her"*) float over playground keyboard refrains and Jimmy McGriff-sampled drums . The lyrics function more as **textural and emotional anchors** than narrative devices. When words appear, they feel like overheard conversations or half-remembered dreams, perfectly suited to the album's nocturnal, introspective mood. --- ## Music & Composition Track by track, the album is a masterclass in **genre fluidity**: | Track | Style | Notable Elements | |-------|-------|------------------| | "So Easy" | Downtempo intro | Eerie Burt Bacharach sample, chunky bassline | | "Eple" | Jittery synth-pop | Bob James sample, high-pitched sonic "tickle," acoustic guitar | | "Sparks" | Slow R&B/Trip-hop | Drecker's drifting vocals, Portishead-esque melancholy | | "In Space" | Ambient lounge | Rippling harps, sighing strings, "interstellar voyage" feel | | "Poor Leno" | House/Pop | Øye's lullaby hook, rich mutating groove | | "A Higher Place" | Downtempo | Phosphorescent synths, stinging guitar loop | | "Röyksopp's Night Out" | Cinematic funk/techno | Tense, Bond-theme atmosphere, free-flowing darkness | | "Remind Me" | Acid house/Easy listening | Playground keyboards, 60s vocal melody, MTV hit | | "She's So" | Jazz/Blues | Mournful saxophone, Tangerine Dream/Vangelis textures | | "40 Years Back/Come" | Experimental/Lo-fi | 80s artificial ethereality, spindly synths, warm fretless bass | The sequencing is deliberate: the album moves from accessible pop structures toward increasingly abstract territory, yet never loses its melodic core. "Röyksopp's Night Out"—the darkest, most aggressive track at over seven minutes—serves as a pivot point, foreshadowing the duo's future direction . --- ## Themes The album's overarching theme is **melancholic beauty in everyday moments**—the "tiny little sparks" Drecker sings about. There's a distinctly Nordic quality to the music: vast, cold landscapes rendered in warm analog tones. The album captures a specific post-millennial mood—optimistic yet uncertain, technological yet organic. The "A.M." in the title suggests dawn, that liminal hour between night and day, which perfectly describes the album's emotional register. It's music for **transitions**: driving at twilight, waking up slowly, the quiet after a party. As one reviewer noted, it evokes "elongated shadows formed by the setting Sun to barren winter landscapes or even deserts on distant planets" . --- ## Influence & Legacy *Melody A.M.* was a **commercial and cultural phenomenon**. It reached #1 in Norway and #9 in the UK, spawned iconic videos (the "day in the life" animation for "Remind Me" won the 2002 MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video), and became ubiquitous in advertising—licensed by Apple, T-Mobile, GEICO, and featured in *Six Feet Under* . Its influence extends to later electronic acts including **Miike Snow, Cut Copy, and countless downtempo/chill-out artists** . The album essentially created a template for how electronic music could be sophisticated yet accessible, experimental yet hummable. As PopMatters argued, it became "the everyman's guide to electronic music, condensed into a sonically superior 46 minutes" . A 2002 limited edition with a Banksy-drawn cover sold for over $10,000 on Discogs in 2019, cementing its status as a collector's item . --- ## Pros - **Melodic genius**: Every track contains a hook that lodges in your memory without becoming annoying - **Production character**: The analog warmth and lo-fi limitations create a timeless sound that hasn't dated like contemporaneous over-polished electronica - **Seamless genre-blending**: House, ambient, jazz, R&B, and pop coexist naturally without feeling forced - **Vocal features**: Drecker and Øye's contributions elevate the instrumentals without overpowering them - **Cohesive yet varied**: The album works as a complete listen while offering distinct individual tracks - **Emotional accessibility**: It invites repeated listening without demanding it—perfect for both active and passive engagement - **Pacing**: At under 46 minutes, it never overstays its welcome ## Cons - **Lyrically sparse**: Those seeking narrative depth or vocal prominence may find it lacking - **Mood consistency**: The relentless mellowness can border on monotony for some listeners—one critic described it as "hold music as the engines of the apocalypse century warmed up" - **Background music potential**: Its very pleasantness means it can fade into wallpaper if not actively listened to ("music for wine bar wankers," as one detractor put it) - **Later tracks less immediate**: "40 Years Back/Come" and "She's So" are more abstract and may not grab listeners on first pass - **Overexposure**: Heavy licensing in commercials diluted its impact for some, making it feel like "advert music" rather than art --- ## Verdict *Melody A.M.* is a **landmark debut** that successfully balanced artistic ambition with mass appeal. It's the rare electronic album that works as dinner party background music, driving soundtrack, and headphone-intensive sonic exploration simultaneously. While Röyksopp would go on to make more ambitious and darker records, they never again captured this particular lightning-in-a-bottle combination of innocence, melody, and understated sophistication.
Nimi tuttu, musa ei. Ainoastaan biisi Poor Leno oli jotenkin tuttu. Mahtava löytö. Tunnelmointimusaa. Ei päivittäiseen kuunteluun mutta sopivaan fiilikseen täydellistä fiilistelymusaa. 5/5
Liked this a lot: beep-boop & feel-good.
This is what's playing in my local dimly lit speakeasy.
Not bad, some good hits, like the one from the Apple commercial.
So, so boring.
Scandinavian elevator music. I saw one quote say that it bridged the gap between electronic and indie music, and I'm here to say...No. No, it didn't.
Nothing wrong with it, just not my thing
This album is such a vibe. Unfortunately it's a vibe I don't think they were ever able to recreate on their subsequent albums.
El disco favorito de mi novio.
(3/5) This reminds me of a European hotel lobby bar's background music... Inoffensive and not at all challenging. Middle of the road dance/club music that blends in with all of the rest. It stays out of '2' territory because it's so light and bouncy. The album cover art depicts it best, as it all feels like a sunrise or sunset on a crisp day. "..Night Out" was the only standout in the field with a funky through line, which helped to carry the track's excessive run time.
It's been a mixed bag on this list with bands that I've never heard of, but this one did a lot out of the gate to lay any fears to rest. "Eple" charting well in the UK in 2001 missed my radar completely here in the States, but I can definitely see the easy appeal and gave it an immediate second go. A few more groovy but generally unremarkable tracks followed before "Poor Leno" did its best not to sound like Daft Punk's "Around the World" and failed dramatically. "A Higher Place" failed to get beyond step-stool elevation, with some less than savory ambient shenanigans, but "Night Out" got the journey back on more solid footing and soared to heights it's predecessor failed to reach. "Remind Me" must have referred to Damon Albarn, because it did remind me a lot, in a complimentary way, of his work. "She's So" had a sultry noir vibe that did its best to lull me to sleep, and would have made a more fitting final track than "40 years," which crumpled some paper in my ear and laughed about it before meandering anticlimactically for another four minutes that did the album no favors. Overall, an album that started with more promise the the two Chemical Brothers albums we've had, but really fumbled in the middle, lacked in overall composition, and landed in the same 2.5/5 territory that I'll round up for its high points.
Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 2 = 3.6 rounded up to a 4 "My mind drifts now and then/ Lookin' down dark corridors and wonders what might have been/ Something's up ahead/ Hey, should I keep this same direction or go back instead?" Only familiar with this band's name. If I've heard anything from them it was purely by accident, probably via a tv show or movie soundtrack. So going in blind. Let's get to it. THE TRACKS "So Easy" - Ok. So I gave heard this. Where? No clue. But yeah, I'm digging it. I can see this as maybe the more relaxed cousin to The Avalanches album from a few ago. Delightful and catchy as hell. "Eple" - Vibe is going to stay very chill throughout is what I'm picking up from this track. We're going to take the scenic route on this electronica laced trip, and I am totally along for the ride. Less meandering than a Stereolab, but playing the same arena. "Sparks" - Downtempo and Triphoppy and possibly from some alternate dimension where unrealized Isley Brothers slow Jams can be plucked out of the air at will and remixed. The vocalist has a bit of a Beth Gibbons sound, but despite loving Portishead, this is the weakest part of an otherwise fine song. "In Space" - I called out Stereolab before, but this much more in their vicinity. But maybe with less bleeps and bloops and more strings ( electronic or otherwise). This one also teeters just on the edge of Pure Moods territory, but never quite falls over. "Poor Leno" - Bit more ambient as we get what sound like some running water noises. Influences are all over this thing, and what would something like this be without some Daft Punk stylings. The headnoddable boots and cats beat mixes well with the distorted vocals and the techno percsussion drops. "A Higher Place" - What if Sade and Beck got together and tried to birth some kind of sultry, jazzy yet funky midtempo jams? Would it be like oil and water or peanut butter and chocolate? If this track is an indication, I'm thinking the latter. I wasn't totally convinced until 2/3 of the way through though. Solid, but benefits from a relisten once you know where its going. "Röyksopp's Night Out" - Full of nervous energy, this one wanders along with an unsure tone. James Brown as elevator music. But in a good way. It does pick up and get some tight urgency right at the end. "Remind Me" - Much more upbeat than most anything we've heard yet, especially in contrast with the last one. What if Yacht rock didn't happen until the early 2000s, until after techno and house music had hit? Mellow as all get up, but with a funky synth line. Catchy catchy catchy. "She's So" - Some jazzy Vangelis saxophone leads us into a beat that would be equally at home on an Italians Do It Better synthwave compilation as it would a Portishead deep cut. "40 Years Back\Come" - This is all mood and repetition. And it's the best kind of that sort of thing. Simple but very very good. HIGHLIGHTS - "So Easy" - "Eple" - "Poor Leno" - "A Higher Place" - "Röyksopp's Night Out" - "Remind Me" - "She's So" - "40 Years Back\Come" MIDLIGHTS - "Sparks" - "In Space" LOWLIGHTS FINAL THOUGHTS Another band I couldn't help but compare to other more well known acts as it seemed on draw on a lot of the same influences and possibly the bands themselves. These songs all sounded of a piece, and I never felt at anytime that the whole thing was cobbled together from disparate sources. I could see throwing this on at a gathering. Not a party. It doesn't give off party vibes at ALL. Overall I dug this quite a bit. Even with a few more listens for it to grow on me though, I'm not sure this one has too much room to grow, rating-wise. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - No notes FURTHER LISTENING - Moon Safari by Air - Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming by M83 - Vertigo by Groove Armada - Deepcuts by The Knife - Music Has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada