Royksopp

COD wars, fjords, A-Ha, Ole Gunner Solksjaer. The name of Royksopp can now be added to that heady Norwegian list.

Jumping on the chill out bandwagon, Royksopp have carved a niche in the growing ambient dance market, standing just far enough removed from Air, Daft Punk and other things French, to warrant the tag of originality.

Pioneers of the 80's pop synthesized ambience, Royksopp paint visions of grand landscapes with great washes of textured sounds and wistful moodiness.

Remind Me is spry and danceable pop that is refreshingly simple and delightful in its retro and almost Parisian delivery.

Moving back to sweeping Vangelis electronica, So Easy is stunning. It's spiritual plucked strings and polished new age haze takes the listener on to a higher plane, floating way off into musical nirvana.

Luke Traynor