 |
| |
|
| |
Album Review
by Malli Mirisdottir
2-9-2004
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Björk: a space woman, an ace album! |
|
Björk: 'Medúlla'
(One Little Indian)
Björk sets a new extraordinary standard
Björk at the Olympiad’s Opening ceremony was the jewel of Acropolis with her ‘Oceania’, totally unique and without any concessions to the mass audience for which she was performing. What a vintage artistry and the only one to truly honour this ancient culture by going bravely where no others dare to.
‘Medúlla’ is Björk’s seventh album and her most strikingly unconventional disc she’s yet created. It is mostly sans instruments, an acappella offering that features diverse practitioners of voice masters such as Inuit singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis, Japanese artist Dokaka and a 20-piece choir.
This wall of vocal sound is created by multi-tracking, layering and looping to create pieces for her voice as the pivotal instrument. And, what one it is: she sings beautifully, the most impassioned she’s been like – ever. Totally involving, breathtaking, inventive and experimental, although not the easiest listen in the world – it is a landmark record, monumentally so.
The new album from Björk is another visionary mix of sounds and atmospherics that will thrill as much as it confounds. Featuring also the vocal talents of ex-Faith No More’s Mike Patton, Mercury Music Prize nominee Robert Wyatt, ‘Medúlla’ may not be perfect and there are elements where [if it were a movie] editing would have been advisable. Nevertheless, it proves, once again, that Björk is one of the most challengingly unique musicians working on the planet today.
No original ideas left? Or, the originality has been whittled down to a particular assemblage of elements not meshed before? Perhaps but ‘Medúlla’ simply defies the generally accepted view that recycling is the only way forward, that copying is the only pattern leading to… well nowhere.
For Björk’s absolute refusal to compromise alone she deserves out undying admiration and obsession by her male fans chiefly due to her being this incredible woman-child… Us, women, can’t fathom at all.
In the global culture going increasingly grey in its choices - Björk shines like a wishing star!
9/10
Malli Mirisdottir
9-4-2003
Björk's album 'Medúlla' is released 30 August 2004 by One Little Indian
|
|
|
