Röyksopp - Senior (2010)

posted by all-musicrecords

Senior is the fourth studio album by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp. It was released on 8 September 2010 by Wall of Sound. 

Consisting of instrumental tracks only, the album is described as more introspective and withdrawn than its predecessor, Junior (2009). 

The final track on the CD version, "A Long, Long Way", also includes the hidden track "The Final Day", which is available as a separate track on the iTunes Store.

Unlike previous efforts, there’s more of a scattershot sense of experimentation, which pays off. 

Sorta. 

It can be fun to play “name the contemporaries” when listening to their cautious experimentation—even when said experimentation veers off the beaten path and into the weeds. 

“The Drug” borrows a few of Dntel’s signature glitchy beats, repurposing them into a stripped down track that, while hypnotizing, goes on about two minutes too long. Meanwhile, “A Long, Long, Way” plays like a sinister, forgotten, track from Air—without borrowing any of the band’s retro enthusiasm. Perhaps the most impeachable cut is quasi-title track, “Senior Living,” a track that features light spaghetti western influences, and heavy cinematic aspirations.Just as autumn must follow summer, Senior must follow Junior. Röyksopp's poppy, peppy record from 2009, Junior included guest-star vocalists, bright effects, and catchy melodies; Röyksopp's dreamy, downtempo record from 2010, Senior includes neither vocals nor much in the way of four-four beats. 

For those who jumped on the Junior bandwagon -- and there were a lot of jumpers, since it surpassed all of their earlier records on the charts -- the music here will be seen as formless mood music, for better or worse. 

For those who enjoyed Röyksopp's earlier downbeat material, this might seem more like home, although it has less character and warmth than Melody A.M. or even The Understanding. Much of it is simply a sedate version of Junior; for instance, "The Alcoholic" could have easily been slotted on Junior if vocals were added and its tempo was increased slightly. 

Elsewhere, Röyksopp have created music of beauty, as on "The Fear" and "The Drug," two pieces whose slowly shifting effects and warm atmosphere conjure a pastoral paradise as only Röyksopp can. While some of the tracks sound like rough sketches that were simply given a bit more shading, most of Senior captivates as a full-length experience.

The album debuted at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. Senior spawned two singles: "The Drug" and "Forsaken Cowboy".

Track listing

1.  ....And the Forest Began to Sing - 1:50 

      Bass – Ole Vegard Skauge

2.  Tricky Two - 7:51 

3.  The Alcoholic - 5:10 

      Guitar – Kato Ådland

4.  Senior Living - 5:09 

      Arranged By [Strings], Performer [Strings] – Davide Rossi

5.  The Drug - 5:58 

6.  Forsaken Cowboy - 5:28 

      Vocals – Lindy Fay Hella

7.  The Fear - 7:01 

      Bass – Kato Ådland, Röyksopp

      Drums – Bjørn Sæther

8.  Coming Home - 5:05 

9.  A Long, Long Way - 4:00 

10.  The Final Day" (hidden track) - 6:42 

All tracks are written by Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland

Companies, etc.

• Licensed To – EMI Music Norway AS
• Licensed To – Wall Of Sound
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Dog Triumph Ltd.
• Copyright © – Dog Triumph Ltd.
• Pressed By – Optimal Media Production – BA12593
• Mastered At – The Exchange
• Lacquer Cut At – Optimal Media Production

Credits

• Lacquer Cut By – HL
• Management – DEF Ltd.
• Mastered By – Mike Marsh
• Written-By, Performer, Recorded By, Producer, Instruments – Röyksopp

Notes

Released:  8 September 2010

Genre:  Downtempo, ambient, trip hop

Length: 54:14

Producer:  Röyksopp

Label - Wall of Sound