It’s been four years since the last Röyksopp studio album proper, 2005s ‘The Understanding’ which came four years after their acclaimed debut ‘Melody A.M.’. However, ‘Junior’ marks the end of long waits as Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge will release a second effort this year titled ‘Senior’.

According to the Norwegian duo “the concept of ‘Junior’ will stand clearer after the release of ‘Senior’”, the latter supposedly being the introvert counter to this generally upbeat first. It’s a statement suggesting that Brundtland and Berge feel a need to excuse – or at least explain – the choices made when making ‘Junior’. Which they don’t. At all.

It’s shamelessly poppy (instant hit ‘The Girl And The Robot’ featuring Robyn on vocals sounds a little like the latest disco incarnation of Madonna, ‘It’s What I Want’ touching on ABBA), gritty ‘n funky (‘Vision One’ with a perfect pop hook and regular Röyksopp guest Anneli Drecker on vocals) and dark (‘Tricky Tricky’ with Karin Dreijer of The Knife/Fever Ray behind the mic reminiscing her work in said acts).

On haunting electro-ballad ‘Miss It So Much’ Röyksopp and Swedish songstress Lykke Li offer one of the most moving moments on ‘Junior’, while first single and opening track ‘Happy Up Here’ is a, well, happy-go-lucky ditty, pleasantly sunny but along with atmospheric instrumental ‘Silver Cruiser’ also one of the weaker tracks on an album showing that Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge have added volumes to their songwriting.

Now I’ll just look forward to have the “concept” of this grand album clarified later this year.

Genre: Electronica
Who: Röyksopp
Album: Junior
Label: EMI
Year: 2009
Country: Norway
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
The Girl And The Robot – Vision One – Miss It So Much – Tricky Tricky