Bjork | Biophilia

ARTIST:
BJORK

ALBUM:
BIOPHILIA

KEY TRACKS:  
MOON
CRYSTALLINE
VIRUS


"Demand the light"  

One of my absolute favorite artists, Bjork is one of the most fascinating, innovative, and exciting artists out there.  My introduction to Bjork was a completely saturating experience.  A college friend of mine loaned me three of her CD's:  Debut, Homogenic, and Vespertine and I listened to them nonstop for a week.  I was very skeptical about her music because all I could think of was that crazy swan dress she wore to the Oscars.  I was a bit of a difficult listener to break but after a couple plays through, I couldn't shake Bjork's eerily charged vocals from my head.  

I've been saying this for years now but it still rings true now more than ever:  Bjork has perhaps one of the most dynamic and interesting vocal styles in the industry.  She easily transforms her voice from lofty hymns to strained guttural wails instantly, keeping the listener on edge as you never really quite know what to expect.  Her song compositions are also just as equally unpredictable.  Sometimes there's a chorus, sometimes a bridge...you never really know.  Yet it's this unhinged freedom of hers that's truly made me a fan.  


And then there's Biophilia.  Bjork's eighth full studio album is more than just an album and more of an art installation.  Along with the music she's created, it's a complete multimedia experience with musical apps the user can download for more musical content, live shows, and other miscellanious media.  Bjork even created video games to each of her songs!  Some may refer to it as excessive, however as someone who expects the unexpected from her, I rather appreciate it.  To me it's Bjork giving her listeners a chance to delve deeper into her compositions and explore her sound in different mediums.  Regardless of how you feel about it, you cannot deny its ambition.

However, as different as it is to experience, musically I don't think Bjork has strayed too far from what she does best.  In fact, Biophilia is strangely reminiscent of Vespertine.   However there is a distinctly more electronic feel as evident with Thunderbolt and Mutual Core.  

Crystalline is probably my favorite track, and probably Bjork's most accessible for new listeners.  I was fortunate to see Bjork perform this live at Bonnaroo and it was easily the most memorable track from her set.  "Moon", Biophilia's lead single, is probably closest to Bjork's previous work.  Simple melodies, a haunting background chorus, and Bjork's astounding vocals soaring high above it all.  It's a dewy, almost subtle track from Bjork compared to the rest of the album and  serves as a bit of an eerie prelude to the bombastic electronics ahead.

Although heavily electronic, this album as a whole still conveys that wintry feel of Bjork's Icelandic homeland.  It's the soundtrack for the short cold days, overcast skies, and bitter wind of winter.  And although I rather hate the cold, it's this feeling that I enjoy most about her music.  

In all honesty, this has been a difficult article to write because, in Boromir's words, "one does not simply describe Bjork".  It's more of an experience for you to interpret on your own terms.  Many love her, some hate her, and even more don't really "get" her but most importantly when you mention Bjork you probably won't hear "who's that?"       

LISTEN:  MOON  |  CRYSTALLINE  |  VIRUS