Björk
Vespertine
On Sale Now
For $13.88

Björk has always lived in a world all her own. Maybe it was her childhood in Iceland. Maybe there was something in the water. Who knows. Whatever the reason, Björk's latest disc, Vespertine, is a sonic collage that probes into mystical musical directions that have yet to be named. Recorded in Spain and New York City these twelve tracks invite the listener on a magical journey where sexy Icelandic fairies rule and nothing is what it seems.

"Hidden Places" starts the show with a discerning trip hop beat that echoes the call of a troubled paradise. "Cocoon" continues with a rhythm based static pattern that holds the music in place. The fluid swell of sounds set the perfect tone for the singer's detached images of semi-conscious erotica.

Without stopping for air the transparent single, "It's Not Up to You," rides forward with the non- percussion. This minimal approach reverberates into unearthly sounds, even as it shifts its shape and bends its tone.

Björk has spent many years and many records writing collaboratively. On this disc she still employs the help of old friends like Guy Sigsworth, Mark Bell and Valgeir Sigurdsson in the studio. The difference is that now the singer is fully in the driver's seat.

One collaboration Björk chose to pursue is the verse of poet E. E. Cummings. "Sun in My Mouth" melts seamlessly into the lyrical landscape with only a handful of words. "I will wade out till my thighs/ are steeped in burning flowers."

"Undo" is yet another highlight in the set. The song uses lush textures, strings and synthetic symphonies along with clever vocal manipulations to get the point across. Heavenly, ethereal and dizzy, the track is but one of the truly ecstatic moments of this disc.

Vespertine continues to prove that Björk is a forward thinking artist who holds no sense of restriction to her music. Though these tunes may not earn her a slot on the top forty radio playlists of America, this disc cements her rep as a bold singer with an extraordinary voice and a truly unique vision.

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