Vespertine - Björk

This is the fourth of Bjork's studio albums (not including Selma Songs), and despite being succeeded by another two, this album stands for me as the best so far. Although Bjork doesn't always receive the credit she deserves for her music, (particularly from mainstream media), she remains one of the most successful alternative artists this century. With each album comes a new wave of sound and a completely different approach. For Vespertine, the mood is mysterious and secretive. The heavy electronic beats that echoed throughout Homogenic are dispensed with, and replaced with softer beats and crisp musicbox clinks. For this album, Bjork travelled to ...  Read the complete review

Track by Track: Hidden Place: 'There hides my passion hidden, there lies my love, I'll hide it under a blanket, lull it to sleep...' One of the more immediate songs on the album, Hidden Place seems to follow a proper song structure, into-verse-chorus... etc! Lyrically it is a very personal exploration of the internal feelings that Bjork possesses. The 'hidden place' of the title is inside of her and some of the personification and metaphor in the lyrics is worthy of some of the greatest poets. Cocoon: 'We faint back into sleephood, when I wake up the second time in his arms: gorgeousness! He's still inside me...' This is ...  Read the complete review

Often labled as a rather controversial and inept artist by those who are unfamiliar with her brilliance, Bjork has done remarkabley well to achieve such a high standard of criticism and review in this, her most recent album. Vespertine is her fouth studio album, following the immense successes of "Debut", "Post" and "Homogenic". A progression in style and texture, this album exceeds all others,with such imaginative use of instruments including harp and music box. Also, Bjork has enlisted the American duo "Matmos" with their electronic expertise to add another new dimention to her music. Track 1) Hidden Place. In my ...  Read the complete review

Its 2001, we're all walking around in our silver clothes, walking our android dogs and so we have to ask ourselves, do we really need another Bjork album?>>>>>>>>Well,no, not really, but its lovely to have her back. Whilst 'Debut', 'Post' and 'Homogenic' were bold landmark releases, 'Vespertine' is hushed in its coy elegance>>>>>and this makes it her most beautiful album to date. First single 'Hidden Place' is a little misleading>>>>>> it suffers for sounding a little Bjork by numbers and is her worst single by far. It is also much more raucous than the rest of the album, which is made up of delicate glitches and ...  Read the complete review

The fourth of Bjork's albums, unless one counts the 'Selma Songs' film soundtrack album. The last three Bjork albums had seen her developing as an artist and releasing more and more challenging material. This one again pushes the boundaries and is possibly Bjork at her most creative. Who is she: Icelandic singer Bjork sung at the 2004 Olympic Opening ceremony, she is famed for being weird and also press shy. On this album: 'Hidden Place' is a great introduction, with eerie backing vocals from a choir, sitting well with Bjork's timid vocal delivery. She sings of this magical place she goes and it is one of those tracks where the ...  Read the complete review