"Senior" is the fourth studio album by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp, released on September 8, 2010, by Wall of Sound. This album marks a shift from their previous work, featuring only instrumental tracks and described as more introspective and withdrawn than its predecessor, Junior (2009). The final track on the CD version, "A Long, Long Way," includes a hidden track titled "The Final Day," which is also available as a separate download on iTunes.
Senior debuted at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart, with first-week sales of 3,864 copies. The album spawned two singles: "The Drug" and "Forsaken Cowboy." In December 2012, it was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), indicating sales of over 20,000 copies across Europe.
Röyksopp aimed for Senior to be an atmospheric counterpart to the more vibrant sound of Junior. Svein Berge described it as having an "autumn mood," in contrast to the "spring feel" of its predecessor. He humorously referred to Senior as "the senile sibling of Junior who lives in the attic." One of the standout tracks, "The Alcoholic," was inspired by a romantic, nostalgic vision of a hobo traveling by hitchhiking.
To promote Senior, Röyksopp released a 10-minute film titled Röyksopp's Adventures in Barbieland on August 6, 2010. Directed by Andreas Nilsson, the film features the duo as elderly musicians in a whimsical house filled with Barbie dolls and includes six tracks from the album.
The lead single, "The Drug," was released on August 8, 2010, with its music video premiering on September 3. This video, directed by the Norwegian film duo That Go (Noel Paul and Stefan Moore), showcases three girls in an apocalyptic landscape in Detroit. An extended 10-minute version of the video, titled "Senior Living," featuring multiple tracks from the album, was released on November 18, 2010. The second single, "Forsaken Cowboy," followed on February 25, 2011.
In November 2010, Röyksopp collaborated with Genero.tv to host a competition for fans to create videos for each track on Senior. The winner, announced in January 2011, created a video for "The Alcoholic."
Overall, Senior represents a mature and contemplative phase in Röyksopp's discography, showcasing their ability to craft emotive, instrumental soundscapes while continuing to evolve as artists.
