Homogenic - Björk

Perhaps more than most artists, Bjork suffers from the Marmite syndrome, in that people think she is a genius or a nutter in equal measure. A child star in her native Iceland, she gained underground fans through her work with the Sugarcubes before going truly global with here first release ‘Debut’. Solidifying her fanbase with 1995’s ‘Post’ album, which spawned her biggest UK hit to date, the novelty ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’, she went musically quiet for a few years although stayed in the headlines thanks to a certain incident with a reporter at an airport. Her third full studio album release with One Little Indian, ...  Read the complete review

Even though it is different to Post and Debut, this album is instantly recognisable as Bjork's work, thanks to her voice which may not be to everyone's taste, but is certainly unique. That is problem the best way to describe this album, unique, because although many experiment with the different elements of this album; classical music, dance beats, programming..., no one else puts it all together, often in the space of one song. One minute Bjork can be whispering or singing sweetly over a backing of cellos, and the next all hell breaks loose and she starts screaming at an improbable pitch as if she were possessed, with all sorts of electronic noises going of in ...  Read the complete review

If you own either of Bjork's previous albums but not this one, you are in for a shock. Bjork has always been known for her extremely unusual and original style of music. And Homogenic just might be the epitome of that. First off I have to say that even as a huge Bjork fan, I didn't really like this album at first. Simply put it was too weird. But I've come to realize that it's albums like these that withstand the test of time, and end up being one of the more important and influential ones. I can guarantee that you have never before heard music quite like the ones on Homogenic. Bjork lets free every last inhibition she might have had on Debut ...  Read the complete review

I was one of the lucky few who were able to hear songs from this album sung live at a secret gig. The venue was the Blue Note in London, packed full with 400 odd people - all huge Bjork fans, and everyone enjoyed it. Homogenic has a very different style to her previous two albums, and may surprise some listeners with its unique sounds. And the sounds are unique, Bjork acheived this by recording natural sounds from her native Iceland, such as geysers and moving iceburgs, these create crunching, raw sounds and unusual drumbeats. These industrial beats are beautifully mixed in with sweet strings and vocals, it sounds like Bjork has fused lullabies with ...  Read the complete review

For me this is a truly fantastic album. I have to admit to knowing next to nothing about Bjork. I'm not a fan, I don't read books about her, follow her website, or even own another album. I simply heard one track off this album, and decided I had to buy it. Bjork seems to be completely unafraid to try anything at all. One minute she can be screaming her head off, and the next track might sound quasi classical. With every track she questions the conventions of the pop world and pushes at the boundaries. I don't know whether this is someone just doing what they enjoy, and saying to heck with everyone else's opinions; or whether she is being quirky ...  Read the complete review