RoyksoppThis Understanding (2-CD Limited Edition)
Royksopp returns with their sophormore album The Understanding. If you are looking for the theatrics their debut, look elsewhere.
The group has retained their knack for strong beats and catchy rhythms but have also expanded to included more vocals and greater danceability to their songs. On the opener, Triumphant, the group picks up from where they left off on Melody except with greater gusto and tempo than before. The excellent first single with its fierce electronic beats makes it headed straight for that great dancefloor. 49 Percent revels in great early 90's funk with a slight Prince-soundalike arrangement. Sombre Detune adds a hard bassline to a solid electronic-backed track. Other great tracks like What Else Is There and the emotive closer Dead To The World brings you back to where the guys first came from.
The five bonus tracks on Disc 2 are more like icing on the cake. Not strong enough to appear on the main album but still serves up some great hooks for fans. (A-)
Recommended tracks: Only This Moment, 49 Percent, Sombre Detune, What Else Is There
TelepopmusikAngel Milk
The group best known for 2001's dreamy hit Breathe returns with a spectacular followup to their debut Genetic World. Angel's Milk is everything Genetic World is and more. Continuing to mesmerize with dreamy melodies and breathy vocals, the group also infuses their songs with string elements and even creates some old world Broadway-like charm on the gorgeous Love's Almighty. Not surprisingly, it's also hemled by vocalist Angela McCluskey who continues to weave magic into Telepop's songs.
The album also sees collaboration with Deborah Anderson and Mau. On the first single, Into Everything, Anderson provides the fluffy dream-like vocals to the Breathe-sequel with aplomb but it's really vocalist Mau who steals the show with a deep lush voice on tracks like Anyway, Last Train To Wherever and Hollywood on My Toothpaste, especially the rap on the latter two tracks are dripping with great sensuousness.
A bonfide sequel worthy of its prdecessor. (B+)
Recommended Tracks: Into Everything, Anything, Last Train To Wherever, Love's Almighty.
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