Great break down. One detail I can fill you in on, that semi-tuned percussive sound that plays through the whole song is not a drum machine per se, its an acoustic instrument sampled from some Asian avant garde album (forget the name of the artist). I am almost certain the drum is a gamelan, or something that sounds just like one. In 1993 I picked up the Debut album because of a favorable review I read in a PROG (!) rock magazine (back when you had to dig into physical magazines at the record store to hear about new music). I guess this was like prog pop, or avant art pop or whatever. I became obsessed, probably because of what you discussed at the end, all this fierce feminine energy in the singing as well as the composing that was nothing like any of the other rock music I listened to. Fierce feminine right alongside a child like wonder with the topics she sings about and how she sings them.
Bjork is such a unique artist. She doesn't really sound like anyone and no one sounds like her. You can't really say that about too many musicians. She has a knack for blending digital with organic, even if the organic is synth strings played by hand it doesn't feel like it's all quantized and stuck to a grid. It swings in a way that feels natural. I'd love to hear your take on Joga, Bachelorette or In the Musicals. Like Radiohead, I feel like you have to hang out with her music for a while for it to take root.
I adore the way she sees jazz.
Great break down. One detail I can fill you in on, that semi-tuned percussive sound that plays through the whole song is not a drum machine per se, its an acoustic instrument sampled from some Asian avant garde album (forget the name of the artist). I am almost certain the drum is a gamelan, or something that sounds just like one.
In 1993 I picked up the Debut album because of a favorable review I read in a PROG (!) rock magazine (back when you had to dig into physical magazines at the record store to hear about new music). I guess this was like prog pop, or avant art pop or whatever. I became obsessed, probably because of what you discussed at the end, all this fierce feminine energy in the singing as well as the composing that was nothing like any of the other rock music I listened to. Fierce feminine right alongside a child like wonder with the topics she sings about and how she sings them.
it's not a gamelan. the percussive sound is a sample of broken bottles.
Björk is kind of an acquired taste, but I love about her that she seems to be a free spirit in all the things she does musically and artistically.
can't beat that 90s bass production, warm and soft
Utterly beautiful… no more to say…
Bjork is such a unique artist. She doesn't really sound like anyone and no one sounds like her. You can't really say that about too many musicians.
She has a knack for blending digital with organic, even if the organic is synth strings played by hand it doesn't feel like it's all quantized and stuck to a grid. It swings in a way that feels natural.
I'd love to hear your take on Joga, Bachelorette or In the Musicals. Like Radiohead, I feel like you have to hang out with her music for a while for it to take root.
You should definitely also give Pagan Poetry by her a listen, it's one of her more heavy songs
Creatively weird.
"I like her so much, but I am not a fan".
What sense does that make?
I know some folks like this. They respect her artistry but don't enjoy the music much, I on the other hand am a superfan!