A Magical Journey... (Vespertine - Björk)

Member Name: Cwej1

Product:	Vespertine - Björk
Date:	18/11/01 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bjork's voice, Expressive beyong normality, Experimental

Disadvantages: Some truly cringeworthy lyrics

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 where we begin to see the theme of the album emerge. The first song was about internal feelings of Bjork - this song is literally about raw sexuality and exploration. Less of a typical song, this song is enhanced by clicking beats that subtly hide in the complex arrangement. It is like a lullaby almost, but a lullaby to an aroused adult. This one takes a long time to grow on you before you realise just how good it really is.

It's Not Up To You: 'How do I master the perfect day? Six glasses of water, seven phonecalls...' For the first time, we hear a song that would actually fit well into Bjork's early albums, 'Debut' or 'Post'. It's Not Up To You follows a typical song structure, (albeit with moments of unexpected stops and starts). The anthemic chorus shows up Bjork's heavier vocals perfectly and the last minute or so of the song, as it fades into a choir singing the chorus, is simply beautiful.

Undo: 'Undo - if you're bleeding, Undo - if you're sweating, Undo - if you're crying...' Sometimes Bjork is accused of going into 'random lyric' mode and pretending that her words mean something. This is one of those occasions where I would say the same as Bjork's critics. What exactly is she going on about? This song a
lso lacks in real tune and doesn't seem to go anywhere. One of Bjork's weakest moments of all time. However, it leads into one of her best moments of all time...

Pagan Poetry: 'Pedalling through the dark currents, I find an accurate copy, a blueprint, of the pleasure in me... On the surface simplicity, but the darkest pit in me, is pagan poetry, pagan poetry...' Lyrically Bjork is at her finest, the song is not particularly commercial, but has a strong tune to it, it is dark and haunting whilst being romantic also. The vocals are passionate and sombre at the same time. Raw, emotional-filled and vivid, this is without a doubt the best song I have heard in 2001 and no song has been played on my stereo so much in as long as I can remember. And whenever I hear the bit where Bjork 'He makes me want to hand myself over', my whole body trembles, the passion within the line touches me so much. If you haven't heard the song and you like Bjork in anyway, you should listen to this track.

Frosti: Why Bjork chose to surround the powerfully evocative Pagan Poetry with Undo and Frosti is beyond me. Frosti is an OK piece of music, but it just doesn't seem to fit here at all... I guess it's almost an intro to Aurora, but it still seems misplaced.

Aurora: 'I tumble down on my knees, fill the mouth with snow, the way it melts, I wish to melt into you, Aurora...' This song is much more classically influenced than some of the earlier tracks and is where the album really takes off into new uncharted territory. Experimental and at moments beautiful, Aurora is a song that takes a long time to appreciate, but once you do it makes its mark.

An Echo, A Stain: 'She touched my arm and smiled, one of these days soon, very soon, love you till then, love you till then, feel my breath on your neck and your heart will race, don't say no to me, you can't say to me, I won't see you denied, I'm sorry you
saw that, I'm sorry he did it, an echo, a stain, a stain, I can't say no to you, say nothing, freefalling, complete.' Now earlier in this review I complained because Undo didn't make much sense. An Echo, A Stain makes even less sense; I've reprinted the whole lyric of the song because I want someone to tell me what it means! However, it is a brilliant piece of music and the lack of structure is not a problem. It is full of deep menace throughout and once you 'know' the song is one of the strongest tracks on the album.

Sun In My Mouth: 'I will wade out till my thighs are steeped in burning flowers, I will take the sun in my mouth and leap into the ripe air alive : with closed eyes...' The lyrics of this are taken from a poem by someone I can't remember the name of. It doesn't really sound any different to An Echo A Stain in style, but is a much shorter song (running to only 2 and a half minutes). The experimental nature of the last few tracks is a little bit hard to grasp to begin with, but with patience it will grow on you.

Heirloom: 'While i'm asleep my mother and son pour into me, warm glowing oils into my wide open throat...' A bizarre set of lyrics accompany this otherwise quite commercial track from Bjork. This again, like It's Not Up To You, would probably sit alongside the songs from 'Debut' or 'Post' and not sound out of place. This is about as uptempo as the album gets, with a subtle dance beat behind the track.

Harm Of Will: 'And if he has chosen the point
while she is under him, then leave her coily placed, crouched, sucking him, for it is i with her on knee...' Another random set of lyrics and not a good track overall. This sounds like Undo in many ways because it doesn't make much sense. However, the music more than makes up for it. It is a beautifully orechestrated classically influenced track, which has to be heard to understand the
rich tapestry I am trying to describe.

Unison: 'I thrive best, hermit style, with a beard and a pipe and a parrot on each side...' A powerful ballad, reminiscent of the final track from Selma Songs, 'New World'. This is an epic track, over 6 minutes long, and it's gentle build up is gorgeously placed.

Overall:

This is an album that is rich in variety and expression. Some slightly unexpected lyrics sometimes try the nerve, but when Bjork gets the words right, she can touch a nerve. Some truly beautiful moments make this album worth taking time to explore. You will find that the more you listen the more you will understand why it is truly a masterpiece. I am giving it 5 stars because it is growing on me all the time and I'm sure some of the criticisms I have levelled at it will negate themselves before too long!

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