Bjork thrives with newest
album
 By
Alicia Swan
Staff Writer
Expectations were high for Bjork's sixth international
release when it came out Tuesday.
Bjork was born in 1965 in Iceland, and by the end
of the '70s she had earned a strong following in the Icelandic post-punk
movement with her band, KUKL, which would eventually become The Sugarcubes,
leaders of new wave in 1986.
Shifting gears, Bjork immersed herself in techno
and dance music in the United Kingdom and created her second solo album,
her first as an adult, with Nellee Hooper, Underworld and Tricky.
When "Debut" was released in 1993, it shot to number
three its first week on the charts.
With "Debut," in '93 and "Post" in '95, Bjork was
named International Female Solo Artist of the Year at the British Music
Awards in both those years. She also started to have mainstream success
in America.
In 2000, after her fourth solo album, Bjork released
"Selmasongs: The Motion Picture Soundtrack for Dancer in the Dark."
For this, she was nominated for an Oscar and the soundtrack became a
cult hit.
Bjork has lived up to all her success with her
newest, "Vespertine."
The album redefines techno with searing beats and
the indescribable vocal styling of the Iceland native. The unmistakable
voice sounds like a child's, but has far more passion, range and nuance.
This album glimmers with metaphoric thoughts as
Bjork mulls over them with her accented voice.
"Vespertine's" stand-out song is "It's Not Up to
You," a pop song that quickly gets stuck in your head. It delves into
the notion that falling in love leaves both participants helpless to
emotions, regardless of how much one might resist.
"Pagan Poetry," a song thick with floor-shaking
beats, sounds similar to 1997's "Homogenic" with its computer-generated
aural landscape.
The album is fantastic, but, as usual, it's not
easy to get into on the first listen. Bjork's never been radio-friendly
or readily accessible, but "Vespertine" is rewarding after repeated
listens.
Although now married and a mother, Bjork continues
to present to the world work that feels obscure, but after consideration,
is clear and insightful.
Since her first album in 1976 up until her latest
effort, Bjork continues to surprise fans with her experimentation and
willingness to challenge listeners.
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