Röyksopp

For a band that released sticky electro-burner Junior and ambient think piece Senior within a mere 18 months, Röyksopp's contribution to the Late Night Tales series comes off just as straight-forward as it does eccentric. With a pair of new tracks in tow, the Norwegian duo contribute the agreeable, vocoder-laced "Daddy's Groove," alongside a wispy cover of a Depeche Mode B-side "Ice Machine," featuring M83 collaborator Susanne Sundfør on vocals. Working as the showpiece track, "Ice Machine" is also the album's most upbeat composition, as the rest of the mix floats abidingly upon '70s prog and yacht rock (Rare Bird, Little River Band, Byrnes & Barnes), new age and Krautrock (Vangelis, Richard Schneider Jnr., Popol Vuh), along with all-around atmospheric oddities (Tuxedomoon, F.R. David, Acker Bilk) and better-known fare (Thomas Dolby, XTC, This Mortal Coil). On paper, the 32nd edition of the Late Night Tales seems like a wilfully difficult listen, but Röyksopp possess the musical gallantry to have compiled the first indispensable comedown DJ mix.