BjA¶rk - Vespertine

Ever since Björk's vital, effusive 1993 debut, her music has been increasingly intimate, gently private, and concerned with seclusion. It's typical then that Vespertine's first single is called "Hidden Place." The studious solitude is rewarding, though. Vespertine is a lush, gorgeous swell of midpace electronica, symphonic strings, and Björk's uniquely alien, spectral vocals. There are fantastical wonders here. "Cocoon" (another eulogy to withdrawal from the world) is delicate as a breath, Björk sounding too fragile to be flesh as she lauds "a beauty this immense." "Pagan Poetry" and "Aurora," likewise, are adrift in an enchanted reverie. When she chooses, she crafts killer tunes; "It's Not up to You" is as lovely as anything on Post. Yet, frequently, on such tracks as the yearning, glancing "Undo," Björk seems to be simply thinking aloud, reveling in this wildly rich and visceral music. She's reclaimed cutting-edge electronica, so often the province of geeks and technicians, for the poets and the passionate. Vespertine is a landmark, a revelation, and a truly fabulous achievement. --Ian Gittins Amazon.com\'s Best of 2001

Orgasmical Evolution.

This lp with it's cold theme will enthrall you and wrap you inside the warmth of the very ice itself. Truth of juxtaposition. The ice burns, how good it feels. May 20, 2008

terrific dvd-audio and the album is one of her best!

the sound is truley great on this version. nice use of the sub woofer and surround is very cool also.

recommened.

i hear there is a sacd version. i find i tend to enjoy dvd-a's sound slightly more than sacd but very few systems can truely decode DSD. May 13, 2008

Soundscape Scientist

This engimatic singer/song-writer has always defied easy classification and as a result, many have been put off by her quirky style of electronica/trip-hop/dance/pop (yes, pop). But where people are baffled, I've always found fascination. And Vespertine is definitely a gold-mine of fascinating and left-of-centre musical ideas. Here, the Icelandic native delves into the privacy of her soul, exploring themes of dreams, romance and intimacy, all packaged in poetic and cryptic lyrics and wrapped in a contemplative and explorative musical idiom. Listen to 'Hidden Place' or 'Cocoon' and you'll experience the idea of romance from a completely new perspective. Pure genius from a musical mad-scientist. April 23, 2008

Love it except for that one song

I love this album its beautiful. Except for the song "Harm of Will". The music in it is quite nice but the lyrics creep me out and annoy me. They creep me out because it sounds like shes talking about having an orgy and putting pretty music behind it. (..."she is under him.....sucking him...for it is I with her on knee."..ew) They annoy me because half of them don't make any sense! Like the line: "if there are 9 shes they are bought for me." Maybe shes talking about 9 whores to join their orgy? Still who says "9 shes"?? Thats so retarded. Why don't you buy 9 English lessons? Then she does songs (that I really love) like "Unison" which lyrically sound like the opposite. So whatever shes a freak but I highly recommend this album. January 7, 2008

track after track of quiet noise

I love Bjork for her fearless experimentation and liked all of her albums I own (such as Post, Medúlla and Homogenic)--until I made the mistake of buying this one. I was so excited to add another refreshingly strange CD to my music collection, but Vespertine isn't refreshingly strange. It's like Bjork took a really strong painkiller, got all loopy, decided to record an album and did so in about an hour.

This isn't music. It's irritating, headache-inducing noise. Buy any other album by Bjork! December 14, 2007

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