Björk

Medúlla

Editor's Review:

Björk seems to exist on a different plane than the rest of humanity, and her latest album Medúlla is just further proof that it may be light-years before the rest of us catch up to her. Forgoing traditional instruments, Medúlla relies mostly on the layering of voices and electronics. Each song presents itself as a somewhat jagged jigsaw puzzle — with pieces like the heavenly sounds of the London and Icelandic choirs, the vocal eccentricities of Fantomas / ex-Faith No More frontman Mike Patton and Inuit throat-singer Tagaq and the purred, quirky voicings of Björk herself set against programmed music and electronic beats. The results are macabre (“Ancestors”), eerily soothing (“Pleasure Is All Mine”), uplifting (“Who Is It”) and achingly human (“Desired Constellation”), but always fascinating. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get lost in Medúlla’s exceptional craft and forget to enjoy it.
– James Barone

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Album Cover
Record Label Elektra
Released September 2004

Tracks

  1. Pleasure Is All Mine
  2. Show Me Forgiveness
  3. Where Is the Line
  4. Vökuró
  5. Öll Birtan
  6. Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right)
  7. Submarine
  8. Desired Constellation
  9. Oceania
  10. Sonnets/Unrealities XI
  11. Ancestors
  12. Mouth’s Cradle
  13. Midvikudage
  14. Triumph of a Heart
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Björk
Bio[+]
Leaving no stone unturned, Icelandic chanteuse Björk Gudmundsdottir has lead a varied and extensive artistic career. She would probably scoff at the word career. Born in 1965 in Reykjavik, Iceland, and growing up in an artistic communal-style household, Björk’s exposure to the arts began practically at birth. She was enrolled at music school by the age of five, where she studied piano, flute and voice. The seeds of her now vast discography were planted at the age of 11 when she recorded her eponymous debut album. After playing in experimental, edgy punk-tinged bands (such as Tappi Tikarrass and Kurl), she formed The Sugarcubes with then-husband Thor Eldon. The group’s debut album, Life’s Too Good (1988) spawned the hit single “Birthday.” After several albums, the group disbanded in 1992. Her solo career began shortly thereafter, releasing Debut in ’93, Post in ’95, Homogenic in ’97 and Vespertine in 2001, among others. Bjork also starred in the modern day musical Dancer In The Dark in 2000. Her unique, cuddly/caustic vocals are like none other.

– Maurice S. Teilmann (November 2002)


Cred: na3s |&&| Scribles

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