In a switch that parallels some of her career moves, "Show Me Forgiveness" downshifts to showcase only Björk's voice. With just a smidge of reverb, it's a very expressive instrument.
"Where Is The Line" again changes direction to create a more typical Björk song, with beats created from sampled voices and colored with a Philip Glass-style chorus.
The use of the Icelandic Choir on this record reflects the role that choral music plays in Icelandic culture (a recent New Yorker piece on Björk puts it this way: "If one in ten inhabitants seem to play in a rock band, one in five sings in a choir"). So it's not surprising to come across "Vigil". Icelandic composer Jorunn Vidar's simple and beautiful melody sets the mood for Jakobina Sigurdardottir's poem:
- Far away wakes the great world,
mad with grim enchantment,
disquieted,
fearful of night and day.
Your eyes,
fearless and serene,
smile bright at me.
While Björk sings this in her native language, the choir slowly builds a soaring counterpoint. Ever seen a snowflake form in slow motion? This is a soundtrack to that process.
I just can't bring myself to describe any more of the songs on Medulla. Because Björk is such a musical omnivore, her music (especially on this release) is packed with countless moments of discovery. It just doesn't seem right to spoil any more surprises.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
so now she's our Scandinavian Bobby McFerrin? Fascinating!
2 - Rodney Welch
I've been spinning that disc a lot. I think the title is Swedish for "I'm horny as a fucking dog."
3 - Justene
This review was chosen for Advance.net. You will be able to find it on newspaper sites including Cleveland.com.
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
good stuff mark. i never been much of a fan of Bjork, although i can see why she gets the praise she does (she was fantastic in Dancer In The Dark, also). I was intrigued enough by the yackings of a-capella carry on's in reviews i'd read to check out this album though. I don't know what i think of it. I don't know that i even like it especially. But i know it's amazing, regardless of personal taste.
And for some damn reason, having never thought anything remotely similar in the past, i find that album cover to be among the, um, "nicest" i've saw in some time.
ie, very sexy, is what.