• Voto:
La Scandinavia è una regione che - musicalmente parlando - viene poco menzionata non solo nelle cronache di classifica, ma anche nella normale e consueta discussione critica sulle produzioni, nuove o vecchie, dello showbiz; l'Italia, in particolar modo, ebbra di rivoltanti tormentoni pseudo-latin, neanche sa dove infilarli 'sti benedetti nordici, portatori invece di uno sconfinato bagaglio sonoro, sperimentale e - perché no - alternativo.
Tralasciando l'eclettica Bjork, regina dei geyser islandesi, e pure gli evergreen Abba e Roxette, Svezia, Norvegia e Danimarca offrono all'ascoltatore un vero e proprio albero della cuccagna con bontà annesse e connesse. Nel bel mezzo di fiordi, ghiacci e foreste stregate, Baltico & soci sfornano elettronica di classe che nulla ha da invidiare ai colleghi inglesi e tedeschi, vantano un ambiente indie da leccarsi i baffi e possono persino far lustro di materiale pop-mainstream del tutto privo dell'artificiosità in continuo riflusso da Occidente (e anche da Oriente): oltre al già citato terzetto Bjork-Abba-Roxette (e scusatemi se ne ho dimenticato qualcun altro), ci sono la sbarazzina svedese Robyn (già conosciuta in Europa per il successo With Every Heartbeat e per alcune collaborazioni con artisti noti o quasi - esempio eclatante la band "I Blame Coco" della figlia di Sting) e il duo norvegese Röyksopp, cui la stessa Robyn è collaboratrice e debitrice di sonorità e influssi. Nati sul finire dei '90, Svein Berge e Torbjørn Brundtland hanno sfornato il primo album di inediti, Melody A.M. (contenente Poor Leno e Eple) nel 2001; l'ultimo, Senior, è del 2010. Eclettici, variegati, ispirati e complessi, i Röyksopp hanno fin dalla tenera età prediletto il genere elettronico, espandendolo tuttavia nei più reconditi ambiti e nelle più oscure retrovie. Ambient, lounge, chill out, chamber pop, trip hop, synthpop anni '80, trance e downtempo sono stati fusi in lavori di enorme caratura e ammirevole estro, inizialmente relegati alla sola strumentalità e poi flirtanti la vocalità e le calde voci delle/i colleghe/i scandinavi (e non). The Understanding, seconda creazione in studio datata 2005, si pone esattamente a metà strada fra l'arditezza e il coraggio instrumental del ricco debutto di Melody A.M. e il compromesso vocale e "commerciale" di Junior del 2009, disco in cui spicca il meraviglioso featuring con ricorrente Robyn in The Girl And The Robot.
Dentro alla corposa ricetta elettro-minimal dance/ambient di The Understanding sono incastonate varie perline di varia valenza. Fra queste brillano, in primis, Beautiful Day Without You, una sorta di melo-nostalgica traccia disco dance - chill out con forti richiami ai leggendari Pet Shop Boys, e l'altrettanto sentimentale Only This Moment, perfetto equilibrio minimal-house e ambient. Altresì godibili sono la criptico-oscura e sincopata 49 Percent, la ballada simil '80 ambient What Else Is There?, l'idillio fra artificio elettronico e naturalezza classica di Dead To The World, la nenia instrumental Triumphant, come pure la seconda virata synth-eighties alla PSBoys in Follow My Ruin.
Degno successore di Melody A.M. e arguto accordo fra sperimentazione, avanguardismo e "pop", The Understanding suona ancora oggi, in uno scenario sonoro praticamente zeppo di dj et similia, un disco del "sottosuolo", un piccolo scrigno underground confezionato in un ambiente che pare non dare troppo adito a tormentoni e robe varie, ma invece alla buona produzione dei buoni produttori. Che dire, fra le selve e il mercurio arresosi all'idea di alzarsi di pochissimi millimetri, la Scandinavia e il Baltico hanno tutte le carte in tavola per eleggere i successori di Bjork, Abba, Roxette & company e passare lo scettro aureo della qualità a una generazione degna e meritevole.
Röyksopp, The Understanding
Triumphant - Only This Moment - 49 Percent - Boys - Follow My Ruin - Beautiful Day Without You - What Else Is There? - Circuit Breaker - Alpha Male - Someone Like Me - Dead To The World.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
02 Only This Moment (03:55)
Only this (moment)
Holds us (together)
Close to (perfection)
Nothing else (out there)
No one to (guide us)
Lost in our (senses)
Deep down inside I know our love will die
(x2)
Only this (moment)
Holds us (together)
Lost in (confusion)
Feelings are (out there)
Scared of (devotion)
Doubting (intentions)
Deep down inside I know our love will die
Stay or forever go
Play or you'll never know
What heaven decided
You can't deny it's
All you've been waiting for
Stay or forever go
Play or you'll never know
Your spirit's divided
You will decide if I'm
All you've been waiting for
Clouds in my head have been parted with grace
By the voice of an angel revealing her face
and her words they make sense 'n' I do understand
Falling in love isn't part of the plan
Forces within me mix reason with lust, but
I'll try to accept it and not make it worse
'cause I know I might lose it by taking the chance
(But) love without pain isn't really romance
Only this (moment)
Holds us (together)
Close to (perfection)
Nothing else (out there)
Always (beside her)
Trusting my (senses)
Deep down inside I know love will survive
Only this (moment)
Holds us (together)
Close to (the other)
Nothing else (out there)
Always (beside her)
Trusting my (senses)
Deep down inside I know love will survive
03 49 Percent (05:11)
I won't try to dent your night
or stop your flight
I've known our plight
You know I'm right
I know about your little fling
How you hide your ring
You senseless thing – I'll cut this string
the heat has simmered for a while
it's not my style –so versatile... and with a smile
at anytime, I could explode!
When you kissed your toad
you killed your princely episode
49%
1% short of half
and less than half
ain't really much of nothing
bit off more than one could bite
and the taste is slight
it leaves this dullish appetite
'bout time I finally seen the light
and said goodnight
for the sling is tight
we'll lose this fight
in a corner painted white
as you fly your kite
I shun the sight, I've seen the light
and now I got to say goodnight, you know I'm right!
49%
1% short of half
and less than half
ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to stop your flight
or change your night or nothing
less than half
why won't you try
to make this damage better?
Math and imagery
Equates cacophony
Multiplies muteness: a sum better disturbed
For silence subtracts
And shadows divide light
less than half is slight
the heat has simmered for a while...
49%
1% short of half
and less than half
ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to stop your flight
or change your night, or nothing
less than half
why won't you try
to make this damage better?
05 Follow My Ruin (03:51)
Down below a faded glow
Vibrant key without a tone
Realise in here it's cold
I can only let it snow
Words were said so long ago
Left a mark, an open sore
You go fast, I'm burnin' slow
Hate to say I knew you'd go
So much going on
And I wish to hold on
So much going on
And I cannot let go
Past the trees that hide our love
Hurry now it's time to go
Make this moment matter more
Show me like you did before
Revolting in a broken home
Holding on to what we own
Worlds collide and cause a storm
Still I wish I could hold on
Words were said so long ago
Face defeat and take the blow
So naïve now I know more
Won't forget the things before
So much going on
And I wish to hold on
So much going on
And I cannot let go
...cannot let go...
06 Beautiful Day Without You (05:29)
Living under God
(Glory)
Wind is on my neck
(Fearless)
Sun is on my face
(Courage)
...a beautiful day without you
(Like rays of gold
In all this decay
How can I forget the pain?)
Living under God
(Glory)
Wind is on my neck
(Fearless)
Sun is on my face
(Courage)
...a beautiful day without you
(Feel unspoiled
in this world
confiding beliefs
How can I?)
I know my tragedy
notion took a bow
still I wonder how
morning after rain
clear away the pain
Then, after all, when all are gone
it's plain to see, just who we are
in light of hate, the way we talk
and act in shame 'causing harm.
"Defend yourself 'n keep your guard!"
We realize we belong apart
'cause beyond ties we've got
ways of knowing...
Living under God
(Glory)
Wind is on my neck
(Fearless)
Sun is on my face
(Courage)
...a beautiful day without you
(Like rays of gold
In all this decay
Now can I forget the pain?)
Living under God
(Holy)
Wind is on my neck
(Fearless)
Sun is on my face
(Courage)
...a beautiful day without you
(Feel unspoiled
In this world
Confiding beliefs
Now can I?)
When, I'm alone, and all are gone
this pain it leaves, onto the sun
in light of good I see myself
approving things of everyday.
The open sky, the breathing stars
will leave me calm in a world apart 'cause
in these times there's no
way of knowing...
Living under God
(Glory)
Wind is on my neck
(Fearless)
Sun is on my face
(Courage)
...a beautiful day without you
(Like rays of gold
In all this decay
How can I forget the pain?)
Living under God
(Holy)
Wind is on my neck
(Fearless)
Sun is on my face
Courage
...a beautiful day without you
(Still unspoiled
Feeling refined
This beautiful day,
it's a sign)
08 Circuit Breaker (05:24)
What is that vitalizing sound?
Calling me
In my head
Repeatedly
What is that visionary sight?
Before my eyes
So prominent
So mesmerizing turbulent
You've got a hold on me
Your ingenuity
Seems to be driving me
down on my knees
The force you generate
You reinvigorate
Your body talks
and overstates
(Well) I'm already drawn
Close to the divine
Intoxicating images are rushing through my mind
Embodiment of sin
Has kindled me within
Sensations seems to multiply, they're building up inside
Cutting through the night
Radiating light
I've seen you move the crowd
I know what you're about
The stories I have heard
The talk about excess
I know what people say
But surely you impress
Charismatic pill
You elevated sun
Vanity and pride
added into one
A universal force
An autonomic high
A thing I can't control
No matter how I try
What have you done to me
This candid chemistry
Emotions running over me
And when you arch your back
Just with a stare like that
Well, it's natural to interact
I'm not holding back
Ready to commence
Caught up in your blizzard
So confusing and intense
Synergy of two
Energy gone wild
See the stars align
to spell your name out in the sky
Never seen a sight
So fascinating right
A symmetry between
Dirty and pristine
Calling out so loud
Beautiful and true
Mystery about
Everything you do
Charismatic drug
You elevated sun
Vanity and pride
added into one
A universal force
An autonomic high
A thing I can't control
No matter how I try
This electricity
Injected into me
Emotions running over me
And when you're getting close
You touch my innermost
A feeling deep inside me knows
Wonders of delight
Cutting through the night
Know you've got it all
I can't do without
Burning in my veins
Ripping through my soul
I'll never be the same
A secret can't be told
Charismatic pill
You elevated sun
Vanity and pride
added into one
A universal force
an autonomic high
a thing I can't control
no matter how I try
11 Dead to the World (05:20)
In the dead of the night you seem closer to me
The next day I wake up and know how unreal it is
Feeling so tense like I'm caught in a corner
You can't speak but I can hear you calling
I come back for you
I've been dead to the world and I've chosen to be
Inside under pillows with marvels and wonders
Sedating my will to exist in the open
I don't move but I keep on moving
I'm only with you
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Giubbo
"Un disco per un’estate passata, la più intensa che avete passato."
"Only This Moment è potenza radiofonica a 100.000 Watt, capace di stregare anche chi frequenta il conservatorio."
Di GK
"'TRIUMPHANT' è un TRIONFO di brividi su braccia e collo"
"I sogni non hanno confini e i luoghi comuni stanno a zero"
Di JULIANHAMPSHIRE
"The Understanding non annoia e riesce a regalare davvero grandi emozioni anche a chi non è proprio un fan del genere come me."
"Dolci parole d’amore sussurrate su una base di tastiere mozzafiato; anche in seguito sarà il piano a farla da maggiore."
Di AR (Anonima Recensori)
La voce della cantante è magnifica e il loro sound è veramente qualcosa di eccezionale.
È il gruppo elettronico più emblematico dopo i Depeche Mode.
Di Toni Bancae
"Only This Moment è la vetta dell'album, un brano incantevole e trascinante dalla dolcissima voce di Kate Havnevik."
"The Understanding resta un album completo dal punto di vista sonoro dove Röyksopp dimostrano di essere uno dei migliori gruppi della musica elettronica degli ultimi anni."
