Röyksopp’s gargantuan three part project / multimedia experience Profound Mysteries marked a significant turning point for the duo – the end of their past, and the beginning of a then uncertain future. While not every part of the original project managed to reach the heights of their best work, Profound Mysteries was always grounded by a sort of deeper purpose – a more cerebral, conceptually astute approach for Röyksopp that transcended music and crossed over into world-building.
Röyksopp’s newest offering, Nebulous Nights, arrives as an ambitious expansion of their Profound Mysteries universe, trading the original’s meticulous production for something rawer and more instinctual. This ambient reinterpretation, recorded live, reveals one of the Norwegian duo’s most underutilised strengths: their capacity for ethereal, experimental soundscapes.
While the conceptual weight of Profound Mysteries sometimes overshadowed its musicality. Nebulous Nights finds a better balance, infusing its sonic explorations with playful frivolity and after-hours experimentation. The result feels less like a carefully constructed artefact and more like a living, breathing entity.
The album serves as both tribute and expansion, weaving references to Röyksopp’s extensive catalog throughout its ambient textures. This self-referential approach, rather than feeling indulgent, adds layers of depth for longtime listeners while remaining accessible to newcomers. At its core, Nebulous Nights is an invitation to explore – not just the duo’s musical universe, but the very nature of critical thinking and curious pondering.
Drawing inspiration from Einstein’s meditation on mystery as the source of art and science, the album creates an expansive universe forged from sound, memory, and emotion. Nebulous Nights achieves what Profound Mysteries originally set out to do: create an endless, immersive experience where imagination roams free from conventional frameworks, and where the mysterious isn’t just celebrated – it’s essential.
Download / stream Nebulous Nights here
