Vespertine

by Bjoerk

Overview

After cathartic statements like Homogenic, the role of Selma in Dancer in the Dark, and the film's somber companion piece, Selmasongs, it's not surprising that Bjoerk's first album in four years is less emotionally wrenching. But Vespertine isn't so much a departure from her previous work as a culmination of the musical distance she's traveled; within songs like the subtly sensual and "Undo" are traces of Debut and Post's gentle loveliness, as well as Homogenic and Selmasongs' reflective, searching moments. Described by Bjoerk as "about being on your own in your house with your laptop and whispering for a year and just writing a very peaceful song that tiptoes," Vespertine's vocals seldom rise above a whisper, the rhythms mimic heartbeats and breathing, and a pristine, music-box delicacy unites the album into a deceptively fragile, hypnotic whole. Even relatively immediate, accessible songs such as "It's Not Up to You," "Pagan Poetry," and "Unison" share a spacious serenity with the album's quietest moments. Indeed, the most intimate songs are among the most varied, from the seductively alien "Cocoon" to the dark, obsessive "An Echo, A Stain" to the fairy tale-like instrumental "Frosti." The beauty of Vespertine's subtlety may be lost on Bjoerk fans demanding another leap like the one she made between Post and Homogenic, but like the rest of the album, its innovations are intimate and intricate. Collaborators like Matmos -- who, along with their own A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure, appear on two of 2001's best works -- contribute appropriately restrained beats crafted from shuffled cards, cracking ice, and the snap-crackle-pop of Rice Krispies; harpist Zeena Parkins' melodic and rhythmic playing adds to the postmodernly angelic air. An album singing the praises of peace and quiet, Vespertine isn't merely lovely; it proves that in Bjoerk's hands, intimacy can be just as compelling as louder emotions. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	03/05/2012
Label:	One Little Indian
UPC:	5016958046019

Tracks

1. Hidden Place
2. Cocoon
3. It's Not up to You
4. Undo
5. Pagan Poetry
6. Frosti
7. Aurora
8. An Echo, A Stain
9. Sun in My Mouth
10. Heirloom
11. Harm of Will
12. Unison
13. Generous Palmstroke

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bjoerk   Primary Artist,Music Box,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Matmos   Guest Artist
Vince Mendoza   Orchestra
Guy Sigsworth   Celeste,Clavichord
Zeena Parkins   Harp
Caryl Thomas   Harp

Technical Credits

e.e. cummings   Composer
Bobby Gosh   Assistant Engineer
Vince Mendoza   Arranger,Orchestration,Choir Arrangement,String Arrangements
Jake Davies   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Geoff Foster   String Engineer
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing Engineer
Mark Bell   Composer
Rory   Assistant Engineer
Matmos   Programming,Beat Programming
Thomas Knak   Composer,Producer,Programming
Isobel Griffiths   Orchestral Agent
Guy Sigsworth   Composer,Musician,Programming,Beat Programming,Choir Arrangement,Instrument Arrangement
Zeena Parkins   Arranger,Composer,Harp Arrangement
Bjoerk   Editing,Arranger,Composer,Musician,Producer,Programming,Vocal Editing,Bass Programming,Harp Arrangement,Choir Arrangement,String Arrangements,Instrument Arrangement
Marius de Vries   Programming,Beat Programming,Production Assistant,Additional Production
Matthew Herbert   Producer,Programming
Oval   Musician
Damian Taylor   Programming,Audio Engineer,Beat Programming
Stuart Green   Coordination,Musician
Matt Fields   Assistant
Leigh Jamieson   Audio Engineer
Jan "Stan" Kybert   Audio Engineer
Erik Gosh   Engineer
Markus Popp   Composer
Aaron Franz   Assistant Engineer
Sebastian Oschatz   Composer
Frank Metzger   Composer
Rikky   Assistant Engineer
Martin Console   Composer,Producer
Harmony Korine   Composer
Valgeir Sigurdsson   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Jack Perron   Studio Support
Oval Alma   Musician