First off I have to say I have always been a massive fan of Royksopp… huge fan! The are Scandinavian warriors, dressed is super chicware, a hint of coolness and have an obsession of making some of the most creative music ever.

‘What else is there’ is one of my favourite tracks ever made. So I have massive hopes for the new album ‘Junior’, really excited to hear it, with fingers crossed for some amazing music.

As I listen, my notes and thoughts in their blunt rawness…

1. ‘Happy Up Here’ – Really like this one… It is a Radio 1 style track, user friendly, non offensive track. Happy Happy music. Very Very similar to ‘Eple’ their Melody A.M. HIT! This will help get them back into the mainstream, not because its a generally commercial track, its just good! One of those you hate to like after it gets abused and overplayed on Radio 1.

2. ‘The Girl About The Robot’ – Disappointment, huge disappointment… I couldn’t even finish listening to it. I don’t want to talk about it. The only track of theirs I don’t like.

3. ‘Vision One’ – Silky smooth track… bang on 5:00 mins long. Maybe I am in a funny mood from the last track, but again not massively feeling this to start with. I will flick to track 4 to see what’s next. Ohhhh do like the backing track, not so much the vocal. The bassline and synth is awsome on this!

4. ‘This Must Be It’ – Reminds me of some of their earlier work, same vocalist from ‘The Understanding’ by the sounds of it. Will do a Google later to find out. Probably my favourite track so far.

5. ‘Roksopp Forever’ – That’s better, hunting synth, stabs, vocals… Cinematic vibe. This is the Roksopp I remember. They key change threw me a bit… really quirky track!

6. ‘Miss It So Much’ – Loving the fast passed beats in the background! This is one thing these guys always do well. The child like vocal takes a few second to get used to, but again bucket loads of quirkiness.

7. ‘Tricky Tricky’ -This is awesome. Royksopp with some new sounds and vibe, as the album progresses so does their sound and what they are doing. Liking this a lot! Nice vocals with some depth and thought. 6 afraid of 7 as 7, 8, 9. My new favourite so far! Love the change at the end!

8. ‘You Don’t Have A Clue’ – Reminds me of their previous stuff… Its going to be hard to top ‘The Understanding’ but there are definitely a few strong tracks on this album. Enticing vocal on this track, the strings come in on a perfect cue!

9. ‘Silver Cruiser’- The start of this is classic Royksopp. Seems to be one of the instrumental tracks… this album seems to be a lot more down tempo than the last. Appropriate title! A very Cinematic track.

10. ‘Truth To Life’ – More upbeat, deep vocals, big big room sound! Love the drums and the changes in the track, baseline is great too. The vocal is almost eerie but memorable at the same time… Hooky.

11. ‘I’ts What I Want’ – High hops for this as the intro seems to have struck a chord with me! Loving the vocals as they come in, with the complementing synth that fills the track. Between the vocals sections a catchy melodic, bleeping synth… does a great job in separating the track and providing a break to drop you back into the vocals. The harsh sound effect in the backing works well to add to the track.

All in all there are some strong tracks on this album, there seems to be a cross-section of old and new styles. Music simliar to their 2001 album with’ Happy Up Here’ to an almost new wave ‘Tricky Tricky’ finihsing off with a classic Royksopp ‘I’ts What I Want’. Although there is a track that doesnt work for me, the rest are pure Royksopp and you have to give it to them, unique in their own right!