Norwegian electronic artists Royksopp said on Monday that they would stop making albums with the release of a final, darker work.
The duo — known for their down-tempo analogue synthesisers and elaborate shows in which they often wear futuristic masks — said they would still make music but would not produce any albums after the aptly titled The Inevitable End, due out on November 11.
“We feel like this is a goodbye to the traditional album format,” duo member Svein Berge said in a statement.
“In our consecutive run of albums, we have been able to say what we want to say and do what we want to do with the LP. We’re not going to stop making music, but [in] the album format as such, this is the last thing from us,” he said.
He said that The Inevitable End, Royksopp’s fifth album, probed “darker subject matter” with a greater emphasis on the lyrics.
Royksopp released a first track off The Inevitable End entitled Skulls which is dominated by a macabre synthesiser line reminiscent of horror films. An electronically altered voice repeatedly intones over the song, “If you wish to ride with us tonight ...”
The Inevitable End comes just months after Royksopp released an EP called Do It Again with the Swedish singer Robyn, who has repeatedly collaborated with the duo.
Royksopp has also repeatedly mixed versions of other artists’ songs including Lady Gaga’s Judas.
