Bjorks songs don't seem to have much of a structure now do they ..they just seem quite random? I mean biophilia and medulla I love and the music is unconventional but I think like utopia this new album probably won't be for me. Still really like atopos though
I'd be happier with new material from her if she just gave up singing in English to be honest and went back to Icelandic for everything
I've cancelled my vinyl order now, I'll get it later but I'm not paying £38 for a double album by anyone
I really wanted to like this, but honestly it just seemed to be typically meandering Bjork... I think I will hold off on ordering the vinyl until I have heard the entire album...
is it just me or does the chorus sound like unison from vespertine? i like it. i dont love it. but i like it.
I hear the essence of Vespertine in small doses in the songs released so far, like your example of Unison in this chorus, a similar use of high-low-high notes for a moment at the start of it. Similarly in Atropos there's a tiny moment reminiscent of Hidden Place.
I can’t get into any of these new songs. I own all her albums so far, though I’ve barely made it through the last two. Vulnicura just leaves me cold every time I attempt it. The songs go nowhere. Everyone’s all like “Black Lake” is freakin’ amazing! And I sit and listen to the thirty minute track and just think it drones on forever without hitting anything of interest. She doesn’t really even sing anymore. It’s hard to explain how she sings. It’s like she just hits four notes. Stop. Hit the same four notes again. Stop. Slight alter for bridge, but still four notes. Stop. And it never builds or goes anywhere. Maybe I’m just old. I don’t even need more “Debut” pop music from her or anything. I just need something that makes me feel anything, and has some sense of melody. I think my Bjork days are probably over. I’ll stick with the first five (because everyone always leaves out the criminally underrated “Selma Songs”, which is a total masterpiece.)
I’ve never been much of a fan of her musically, but this what struck me with this new stuff. It’s both repetitively boring but also quite disjointed to listen to. I wonder whether there’s something in there that I don’t really get, but as it successfully deflects my attempts to enjoy it, I’m not sure I’ll ever know.
I get what you're saying I do enjoy black lake and most of vulnicura though. Utopia was the one I couldn't get into. Selma songs is great yes I only heard it recently, saw the film years ago but don't think I remembered the music much because it was SO SAD. A great film that I probably won't watch again for a long time.
I definitely agree with you after those first 5 albums ("Debut" thru "Medulla"), I've lost interest more and more. I admit I was not wild about "Selma Songs", nor did I much care for the movie, which was just too dark and depressing for me to make it through more than once. I think I liked the last album more than the previous four (?), but I'll be damned if I can remember a single song from it now!
You’re right, “Dancer in The Dark” is sooooo depressing! But I love that movie so much! I actually own it on DVD. But I can only view it every couple of years or so.
Put me in the “she dropped off after Medulla” camp too. But I have dutiful bought her records which are art projects now as much as records. Anyone read the Pitchfork interview. I didnt think she came off very well. Rather entitled and very self involved. Also working hard to present a image of herself that masks her age. Its a little exhausting all the heavy costumes and make up. I was never a genesis fan with Peter Gabriel in all his make up and costumes. She is a very unique artist and still swinging for the big statements. But it be nice to see her do something musically stripped back, less prog and more song based and much less costumed.
Now yer talkin'! I'm a Björk fan who likes everything – except Utopia. I gave it many tries. Fossora sounds promising though. Not interested in any "return to form" or "unplugged" Björk; I always want her to forge ahead, and challenge her audience. Even if it's just me. If Utopia never clicks with me, that's OK too. Artists gonna art. .
Echoing some of the replies here, this would be on pre-order if the price was right. However, at £37 it most definitely is not. As for the vocals, there just doesn't seem to be any vocal melody. I can only say that this is one of the reasons (of several) of why I don't like Rap - the vocals just make statement after statement in the same angry drone (yes, I am grossly generalizing to make a point). That said, why consider this at all? Well, the music, which I really dig. Still, with the current pricing it's not something I have to worry about right now, I'm not paying that much, period.
Like both “Ancestress” and “Ovule” a lot more than “Atopos”. I could see myself getting into that first single more, and I’m definitely curious to see what other things she does with this bass-clarinet-almost-reggaeton thing she’s doing, but the last two singles have been a lot more satisfying listens for me.
I’m totally with you there, Sir - but I would add - she is still absolutely amazing live - saw her in July and consider that probably the best of the 6 times I’ve seen her since 1997..
I’d be more than glad not to leave out “Selmasongs” - however, that’s the album I was SO disappointed when it finally came out after the movie (which I’d adored, along with its OST) as (1) it was just a 30-min selection of the total music for the film, and (2) the songs that were changed for the album couldn’t hold a candle to the original versions in the film itself.
I loved the music on that first released song, but the lyrics are an embarrassment. I admit I cringed.
Utopia is so amazing and gorgeous... you will click with it at some point I am pretty sure! Of course, the production/mastering is way too loud for such a treble album but still, it is a thing a beauty. It took me 10 years to click with Biophilia. Never thought I would. But last year, out of the blue, it was in my head one day so I put it on and... click!!! Drawing Restraint 9 on the other hand, I am still waiting...
Always interesting how we all react differently to art. There are definitely several passages in Utopia that are breathtaking. Biophilia was an instant obsession, achieved Best-Ever status on the very first spin. I like Restraint quite a bit, but I don't think of it so much as a Björk album as a soundtrack. But a good'un. .
I just finish listening to Fossora and it's a beautiful album! To those who liked Vespertine, Medulla and Utopia, you'll probably enjoy it too!
