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Reviews & Discussion:
Every once in a while some music is made which really makes a difference. Hoopy Frood's Psychonaut is such an example. Just when you thought that psychedelic chill had crossed the line of boredom and repetition, Hoopy Frood comes to breath new life into this style. More than innovativd, this is a clever and happy blend of influences, obviously Pink Floyd beeing the heaviest of the lot. However, there are many other influences, including electronica, rock,folk and just a bit of weirdness. Melodies are well woven togheter, and the combination of electro, rock and ambient never sounds pretentious or overdone. The production value is very high, up there with the likes of Shpongle or Ott. Even if you are not a fan of psy chil you should give this CD a try, it goes well beyond any labels you try puting on it, like with all great music. Fabulous!
The seconde full-length of Royksopp sounds definitely different, more pop-oriented and less original, with moods frequently evoking different artists of 80-90's. However, it is still produced with the unique sound and manner of those norwegians... more easy-listening perhaps, but in its unique way. Still a highly enjoyable album, full of interesting stuff. Just don't dismiss it too quickly.
I was there, at the live performance in Sonar Festival, Barcelona. It was unforgetable, one of the most haunting musical performances/shows I have ever witnessed. At one point we were handed small shiny plastic disks to stick on our foreheads, and as a strong strong light walked on the audience, you could see the reflections from the discs like rays coming out people's heads, perfectly traced by the smoke - brilliant!:).
The music was right, the place was right, the mood was right... thick layers of electronic sounds, slowly changing and pulsating over time, episodes of percussive madness, powerful bass. This is music to be experienced, not to listen to in your sofa at home. 
One thing is sure - the guitar is Federico´s. This album is a brilliant debut, where the latin atmosphere and rythms have been seamlessly blended with the trippy electronic atmosphere of TC. For me this is much more satisfactory than related projects, like "Gotan" - instead of cuting and pasting latin music, this album IS latin music, and at the same time IS electronic music. These are true sounds of the future, transgressing barriers and inviting the question: what is latina, and what is electronica ?...
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Track 21, the last track on the CD (I don´t have the DVD) is an amazing ambient w. beats/space/futuristic track that may well be the best moment on this incredible CD.
Not to miss!