Profound Mysteries II
Studio album by
Röyksopp
Released19 August 2022 (2022-08-19)
Genre
Length51:26
LabelDog Triumph
ProducerRöyksopp
Röyksopp chronology
Profound Mysteries
(2022)		 Profound Mysteries II
(2022)		 Profound Mysteries III
(2022)
Singles from Profound Mysteries II
  1. "Sorry"
    Released: 14 June 2022
  2. "Unity"
    Released: 15 June 2022
  3. "Control"
    Released: 26 July 2022
  4. "Let's Get It Right"
    Released: 27 July 2022
  5. "Oh, Lover"
    Released: 17 August 2022

Profound Mysteries II is the seventh studio album by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp, released on 19 August 2022. It is the second of three albums in the Profound Mysteries series of albums. It was released with collections of short films (each by a different director) and animated visualizations (by artist Jonathan Zawada) created to accompany each track.

Background and development

In an interview with NME Svein Berge stated that "We are focussing on what we call the mystery – it’s rather pompous, I know," "We even added profound to turn up the nobhead-hood of it all! But anyway, the thing with part two in particular is that with this one, we point to the inspirational genres and artists who helped to forge us when we were kids." He further commented that those with a keen ear will notice heavy references to other artists like Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode, and also genres like Italo Disco and '90s UK rave. It's something they've always used in their music, but that this time it's more strident. He said that "It’s meant as a tribute, not a rip-off."[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Aftenposten4/6[6]
AllMusic[7]
Bergens tidende4/6[8]
NME[9]
Pitchfork5.5/10[10]
VG4/6[11]

Profound Mysteries II received critical acclaim from music critics.[6][7][8][9][10][11] Eivind August of Aftenposten stated that the album has "Driving bass lines, slowly building rhythms and of course dreamy synth lines. This is Röyksopp as we know them, but with enough innovation that they don't just float on nostalgia."[6] Joakim Randa of Bergens tidende noted that "Especially in its first half, Profound Mysteries II almost sounds like the debut album Melody A.M., but from an alternative universe." and further stated that the track It Was A Good Thing is "a truly beautiful piece of pop music and clearly the best track on the album. The production is restrained, with simple, almost resigned motifs".[8] Timothy Monger of AllMusic described that "Musically, [Röyksopp] continue to subtly expand their signature mix of lush downbeat drama and clever electropop, getting cinematic and darkly funked-out, sometimes in the same song" and that the album is "as satisfying as its predecessor", and that it "is yet another quality entry in Röyksopp's already sterling canon."[7] Marius Asp of Verdens gang stated that the album "gets even better with [the track] Let's Get It Right, [...] - a smooth pop melody that benefits enormously from a warm, organic and intimate soundscape." and commented that the track Unity "is lifted to heaven by euphoric house piano, breakbeats and a powerful singing performance from British Karen Harding."[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Röyksopp, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Denimclad Baboons" 3:43
2."Let's Get It Right"
5:05
3."Unity"
5:04
4."Oh, Lover"
6:13
5."Sorry"
4:59
6."Control" 6:13
7."It Was a Good Thing"
  • Röyksopp
  • Pixx
4:12
8."Remembering the Departed" 3:49
9."Tell Him"
  • Röyksopp
  • Susanne Sundfør
5:26
10."Some Resolve" 6:42
Total length:51:26

Accompanying short films

Released between June and August 2022, alongside tracks from Profound Mysteries II.[12]

No.TitleDirectorLength
1."This is Mæh"Bine Bach1:43
2."Resignation"Holger Karberg1:23
3."Good Human"Øyvind Holtman1:07
4."Therapy"Jeppe Rønde1:59
5."Past"Jeppe Lange2:02
6."Frenship"Ada Bligaard Søby1:05
7."Tease"Emilie Thalund1:44
8."Dreamweaver"Andreas J. Riiser0:54
9."Washed Ashore"Andrea Eckerbom0:53
10."Alfons"Jakob Marky0:52
Total length:13:42

Charts

Chart performance for Profound Mysteries II
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[13] 19
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] 91
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] 35
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] 25
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 31
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[18] 2
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[19] 12
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[20] 8

References

  1. ↑ "Profound Mysteries II by Röyksopp on Apple Music". Apple Music. 19 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries II [CD] – All Good Clean Records". All Good Clean Records (in Norwegian). 19 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Profound Mysteries II from Dog Triumph Profound Mysteries on Beatport". Beatport. 19 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "Profound Mysteries II by Röyksopp". Napster. 19 August 2022.
  5. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (15 June 2022). "Röyksopp announce 'Profound Mysteries II': "We want to get your senses going"". NME. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Stuen, Eivind August Westad (19 August 2022). "Den vanskelige midtdelen" [The difficult middle part]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 Monger, Timothy. Röyksopp - Profound Mysteries II at AllMusic. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Berthelsen, Joakim Randa (19 August 2022). "To nyanser av nostalgi" [Two shades of nostalgia] (in Norwegian). Bergens tidende. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  9. 1 2 Trendell, Andrew (19 August 2022). "Röyksopp – 'Profound Mysteries' I and II review: retro-futuristic rave". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  10. 1 2 Cardew, Ben (19 August 2022). "Röyksopp: Profound Mysteries II Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 Asp, Marius (19 August 2022). "Plateanmeldelse: Röyksopp – "Profound Mysteries II": Den ukompliserte toeren – VG" [Record review: Röyksopp – «Profound Mysteries II»: The uncomplicated second – VG] (in Norwegian). VG. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Part 2 - Röyksopp". Röyksopp. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1695. Australian Recording Industry Association. 29 August 2022. p. 10.
  14. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Album 2022 uke 34". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
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