Röyksopp

Most entries in the Back to Mine series allow the artists to investigate their wide but dabbling tastes in influences -- a bit of dance, a bit of alternative, some roots in '60s pop or soul perhaps, and maybe a stray nugget from something obscure like Krautrock or dub or rockabilly. The other volumes usually come from true DJs or, rarely, those with something special to say. Regardless of whether you enjoy Röyksopp's vision of polished downbeat pop, the duo's interest in post-disco and Euro-dance pays major dividends here for those looking to hear something beyond the usual Klein + M.B.O. or Alexander Robotnick singles. The vast majority of the tracks hail from that magical time (1978-1984) when disco, new wave, and synth pop were colliding with fantastic results, especially considering the quality of these obscurities, from the cold Teutonic harmonies of Harry Thumann's "Sphinx" to the warmer Italian-lover sound of Pino d'Angio's "Ma Quale Idea." (Even the contemporary tracks sound vintage, led by the Röyksopp alias Emmanuel Splice.) The mix broadens toward the end with a couple of clever R&B/dance fusions (Idris Muhammad, Funkadelic, the New Birth). ~ John Bush, All Music Guide