Artist – Album: Björk - Post
Released: 13th
June 1995
Sounds Like: Iceland’s Post-er girl
Why is it that certain parts of the world are so much better
at this music thing than others? I mean, for example: Coventry and Leicester
are pretty much the same rubbish-y grey cities in the UK, but one gave us
splendid ska of The Specials and was the epicentre of the Two Tone movement,
whereas the other’s legacy probably ends with Showaddywaddy. Likewise, despite
having a population less than that of Luxembourg, Malta or the Bahamas (or even
those aforementioned Midlands conurbations), Iceland has had a disproportionate
measure of success in making exceptional and original music.
Following hot on the heels of yesterday’s hypnotic and
elegant Sigur Rós, today we have
their fellow compatriot Björk who happens to be dealing in an entirely different
but equally compelling musical realm. Things kick off with the dark electronica
of ‘Army of Me’ and it’s abrasive
chorus of “if you complain once more, you’ll meet an army of me”, but the real
strength of the album is how it flits between styles effortlessly and with
little negative impact on the album’s overall quality. Following the menacing,
industrial rock of that opener is the delicate electro-pop of ‘Hyperballad’, a gorgeous alternative to
the throwaway love song. Just two songs later is the cartoon theatricality of ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ (annoying and
overplayed back in the mid-nineties, energetic and appealing today).
Björk has been
one of the most unpredictable and innovative artists in world music for the
last 25 years, and each of her eight solo albums have received critical
adoration. Other records contain moments of brilliance that surpass anything
here (although I do bloody love ‘Hyperballad’)
but as a set of songs this is by far her best.
Albumaday... rating:
8/10
1. Army
of Me – 3:54
2. Hyperballad
– 5:21
3. The
Modern Things – 4:10
4. It’s
Oh So Quiet – 3:38
5. Enjoy
– 3:57
6. You’ve
Been Flirting Again – 2:29
7. Isobel
– 5:47
8. Possibly
Maybe – 5:06
9. I
Miss You – 4:03
10. Cover
Me – 2:06
11. Headphones
– 5:40
Listen to ‘Isobel’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGjGh74n_9U
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Also released on the 13th June:
1995: Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill
|
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Also released on the 13th June:
2000: Modest Mouse – The Moon & Antarctica
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