The duo has been generating a lot of hype lately, ending up on top-10 lists and "acts to look out for" alerts, but I can honestly say that it's all warranted. On Röyksopp's debut album, Melody A.M., Brundtland and Berge come out swinging like two pasty studio programmers hell-bent on getting some action. The first track, "So Easy," opens with a hooky funk bass line and plucked string samples over a breakbeat. It's followed by "Eple," the showcase cut--another infectious, dance-floor-ready breakbeat with a slightly tweaked-out Fender Rhodes melody making gorgeous, dreamy soundscapes. As Melody A.M. continues, it sways through downtempo, breaks, and house beats; Röyksopp aren't scared to wear their sweet pop sensibilities on their sleeve, but luckily they never get too cheesy. "Poor Leno," with its straight 4/4 beats and effects-laden vocals, risks crossing over into that questionable little area we like to call "trance," but the restraint in the production work saves it--though you'll more likely hear this track blowing up in large clubs than in secret after-hours parties.
I've heard that in a club setting, Röyksopp have been coming at it live-PA-style with keyboards, laptops, DATs, a bass player, and a keen sense of humor. Despite the icy climate of their native roots, the duo effortlessly fuse dance-floor electronics with warm, eclectic downtempo that remembers how to break a sweat. NICOLAE WHITE
Röyksopp w/Sunitzu Sound featuring A. C. Lewis, J-Justice, and Atlee, Sat March 8 at Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison Ave, 324-8000, 9 pm-2 am, 21+, $6.