Profound Mysteries II

by Roeyksopp

Overview

After taking an extended hiatus from the album format, Norwegian electronic duo Roeyksopp made a grand return in early 2022 with Profound Mysteries, the first installment of an ambitious two-parter. During their first two decades together, Svein Berge and Torbjorn Brundtland curated an impeccable guest list of mostly female Nordic luminaries to voice their sweeping downbeat and synth-pop anthems. Swedes like Robyn, Lykke Li, and Karin Dreijer have all taken memorable turns at the mike, though it's fellow Norwegian Susanne Sundfor whose wonderful latter-day contributions make her seem like the group's honorary third member. Along with Roeyksopp newcomers like Astrid S and Alison Goldfrapp, Sundfor made two strong appearances on Profound Mysteries' first volume and returns here just a few months later for a pair of victory laps on the project's sequel. Where the overall tone of volume one was more haunted and windswept, this second set boasts a handful of irresistible club-driven tracks, particularly the two instrumental highlights, "Denimclad Baboons" and the slightly menacing "Control." With their growling synths and wily arrangements, both are quintessential Roeyksopp bangers. Musically, Berge and Brundtland continue to subtly expand their signature mix of lush downbeat drama and clever electropop, getting cinematic and darkly funked-out, sometimes in the same song. Adding continuity to the project, Astrid S, Pixx, and Sundfor appear on both Profound Mysteries albums, with Sundfor adding another classic to their shared catalog on the excellent "Oh, Lover." Karen Harding makes her Roeyksopp debut on "Unity," a rousing uptempo cut that feels like a bit of a club throwback, and fellow Brit Jamie Irrepressible loans his yearning voice to the moody "Sorry." As satisfying as its predecessor, Profound Mysteries II is yet another quality entry in Roeyksopp's already sterling canon. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	08/19/2022
Label:	DOG TRIUMPH
UPC:	5060236636911

Tracks

1. Demiclad Baboons
2. Let's Get It Right
3. Unity
4. Oh, Lover
5. Sorry
6. Control
7. It Was a Good Thing
8. Remembering the Departed
9. Tell Him
10. Some Resolve

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Roeyksopp   Primary Artist
Zara Benyounes   Violin,Viola
Gunhild Ramsay Kovacs   Vocals (Background)
Svein Berge   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Ole Vegard Skauge   Bass
Kato Adland   Bass,Guitar
Rosie Danvers   Cello
Susanne Sundfor   Vocals
Kerenza Peacock   Viola,Violin
Ivar Thormodsaeter   Drums
Jamie Irrepressible   Vocals
Karen Harding   Vocals
Jorn Oien   Piano,Omnichord,Wurlitzer,Prophet Synthesizer
Astrid S   Vocals
Pixx   Vocals

Technical Credits

Mike Marsh   Mastering
Roeyksopp   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Instrumentation
Torbjorn Brundtland   Group Member
Svein Berge   Group Member
Rosie Danvers   Orchestral Arrangements
Jonathan Zawada   Artwork
Lewis Wright   Engineer
TommyD   Producer
Hannah Rodgers   Composer