The Understanding

Takes the listener on an unmitigated aural journey through the outer reaches of electronic music.

A masterful submersion in the pop allure of ambient and house music. [#16, p.94]

An immersive experience that has unexpected turns and deep emotions at the core of every song. [#10, p.114]

Showcases vocals more boldly than Melody A.M. [Aug 2005, p.98]

This is the one that puts them firmly and officially up there in the top tier of the dance-music crossover-album crowd, up with the Daft Punks and, umm, Basement Jaxxes.

Even more melodious, lush and seductive than... Melody AM.

The pair's knack for excelling amid a range of styles and approaches is even more apparent on "The Understanding," which resists the temptation to overtly court the masses.

Certain artists’ albums sound like they’re effortless because they’re actually lacking in effort, but Röyksopp’s albums sound effortless because these guys are just that good at turning out great downtempo tunes.

The Understanding raises their game, mainly with its careful attention to one key musical detail: great tunes. [Aug 2005, p.132]

Gorgeous.

What they do best is produce exceptional electronica for people that don't have the patience for extended instrumental passages and require things like vocals on regular intervals. With that precursor, The Understanding is probably one of the better electronica records to come out this year that thankfully doesn't involve MCs from Def Jux or was composed on a laptop.

The Understanding is one of those bold sophomore efforts that will most likely split fans of the duo into two camps, with the Air/Boards of Canada downbeaters lamenting the new direction and the dance-oriented, Basement Jaxx set reveling in the unexpected vibrancy of Röyksopp’s present sound.

The first disc's bubbly, nuanced electronica has given way to capable club stompers, more aggressive beats, and, for that extra-accessible touch, a greater role for singers. [15 Jul 2005, p.70]

Much of the album bears more than a passing resemblance to the second half of [Daft Punk's] Discovery.

Perfect for a top-down ride to the beach. [Aug/Sep 2005, p.115]