Röyksopp (NOR)
All-singing, all-dancing electronic wonder Röyksopp laid a hefty set of cards on the table already with its first studio album: Melody A.M. (2001) sold millions and found fans amongst club audiences, rock freaks and pop connoisseurs alike. Looking back, Röyksopp couldn't have released its debut album at a more opportune moment. As electronic dance music in the early Noughties was almost suffocating in the midst of too many faceless releases, Röyksopp was the long-awaited breath of fresh air from the Norwegian fjords. Even if the beautifully heartbroken follower The Understanding (2005) was perhaps slightly too sad to be an instant hit on the dance floor, with that album Röyksopp showed that the band was by no means an ordinary one-trick dance pony. One of the finest moments on that slowly-growing album is What Else Is There?, sung by Karin Dreijer Andersson and still contending seriously for the title of the Best Song Ever. Most of all, Röyksopp's allure is in their instantly recognisable sound and their enviable knack for irresistible pop melodies.
Four years later, Röyksopp is back again. The new album Junior (followed later this year by, interestingly enough, Senior) is a happy and positive, yet piercing album. 8-bit samples bubble with enthusiasm, boys meet girls, girls meet boys and the summer will never end. Do we, then, need any further justification as to why Röyksopp is the perfect band for Ilosaarirock Festival? Their last visit to their neighbouring Finland was almost seven years ago, but if the wait was long, it was definitely worth our while.
royksopp.com
myspace.com/royksopp
