Photo: Stian Andersen
You could never accuse Röyksopp of staying in the one place. They take flight over the electronic genre with a command and skillset that sees them on an ever evolving journey. Whether it be geared towards the experimental or traversing into the mainstream cross-over, the Norwegian duo preside over it all like the two esteemed emperors of the electronic pop universe that they are.
It really doesn’t feel like two long years already since “The Inevitable End” reached us. The title of the duo’s final album, NOT the dissolving of the band! Itself an announcement that it was to be the last Röyksopp album. Svein and Torbjørn realised their future would be of more fertile scope if they didn’t enter into the constraints of larger projects anymore. Favouring standalone and mini releases to best serve their eclectically sought, creative energy to maximum effect.
This new train of thought has enabled the duo to bounce back with a fully-fledged slice of disco envisaged bliss as they link up again with singer/songwriter Susanne Sundfør.
In a move that’s probably going to divide opinions, the arrival of “Never Ever” is Röyksopp busting out some of their most juicy, mainstream primed beats tied-in with a strong 80’s influence ingrained upon it.
If you’re on the lookout for some frolicking cosmic disco jerks and spacey vibes to descend upon your headspace “Never Ever” is that new go to track to sate rumbling synth-pop appetites. Those craving Röyksopp’s usually configured out-of-the-box thinking and alternatively leaning temperament might prefer to sit this one out though.