The 5th and Final Goodbye

The last traditional album from the Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp doesn’t feel like a goodbye, but the two are going out on a high note with The Inevitable End. The album is named after the Norwegian duo’s decision that their fifth studio album will be their last in the “traditional album format.” With The Inevitable End, Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland have a studio album that seemingly sets them up to begin writing movie scores, or whatever direction they choose to go in next. The album starts out with a track reminiscent of the famous French electronic duo Daft Punk’s Grammy winning album “Random Access Memories.” On this particular album, “Skulls” is a standout introductory track due to its upbeat nature, which is very suitable for parties. Röyksopp utilizes a variety of talented guest singers that sound strong over the interesting instrumental mixes the group makes. They seem to mix best with Swedish pop singer Robyn, who they teamed up with earlier this year on the mini-album “Do It Again.”

Robyn is arguably the most famous singer on The Inevitable End. She has generated world wide fame, including here in the United States. The other featured artists haven’t reached popularity in the states yet but contribute polished songs that showcase their vocal abilities. Robyn’s first song here is the beautiful “Monument” which echoes Robyn’s previous hit songs but also adds a more haunting side. The lyrics in the song are deep and thoughtful but soon turn repetitive as the track more or less drags on much longer than necessary. Speaking of repetitive, another track featuring Robyn, “Rong,” is even more repetitive than her first track. The pop star repeatedly asks, “What the fuck is wrong with you?” for the first minute of the song, then a round of multiple Robyn vocals chime in with, “You’re so fucking wrong.” The instrumentals mixed with the singer repeating one phrase incessantly can result in unpleasant listening.

The track “Running To The Sea” features Norwegian singer Susanne Sundføis and turns out to be an album highlight due to her uniquely troubled tone of voice. “Coup De Grace” is the shortest track on The Inevitable End, being less than three minutes long. The track is strictly instrumental and most suitable for listeners that are searching for a song bound to put them to sleep. It sounds as if it belongs in the climax of a blockbuster movie. The following track is the six minute long “Thank You.” This song features robotic voices but it isn’t a club banger, as it still has a tranquil vibe to it.

As a whole, The Inevitable End is lengthy and isn’t ideal for electronic fans that are looking for music to dance to. The album has several up-tempo songs but as a whole has a more ambient style. In general though, The Inevitable End shows that Röyksopp has developed an artistic sound that sets them apart, and that fans love and expect from the electronic duo.