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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Elektra / Wea
Salesrank: 5309
Released: August 28, 2001 |
| Our Price: $7.45 |
| Used Price: $1.75 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Vespertine Track Listing:
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
Editorial Review:
Ever since Björk's vital, effusive 1993 debut, her music has been increasingly intimate, gently private, and concerned with seclusion. It's typical then that Vespertine's first single is called "Hidden Place." The studious solitude is rewarding, though. Vespertine is a lush, gorgeous swell of midpace electronica, symphonic strings, and Björk's uniquely alien, spectral vocals. There are fantastical wonders here. "Cocoon" (another eulogy to withdrawal from the world) is delicate as a breath, Björk sounding too fragile to be flesh as she lauds "a beauty this immense." "Pagan Poetry" and "Aurora," likewise, are adrift in an enchanted reverie. When she chooses, she crafts killer tunes; "It's Not up to You" is as lovely as anything on Post. Yet, frequently, on such tracks as the yearning, glancing "Undo," Björk seems to be simply thinking aloud, reveling in this wildly rich and visceral music. She's reclaimed cutting-edge electronica, so often the province of geeks and technicians, for the poets and the passionate. Vespertine is a landmark, a revelation, and a truly fabulous achievement. --Ian Gittins
Vespertine Reviews:
Uniquely Artistic 
2008-08-28 - There is not much out there with this sound. It is certainly true that Bjork has a sound that cannot be categorized, and that is what I look for in unique music. This was my first Bjork album, and purchased at the recommendation of Amazon customers (as are many of my recent acquisition).
The album provides an electronically contrived sound with influences as diverse as anything I've heard. The vocals are haunting and, if not beautiful, intriguing. This is art, not commercial music.
Vesper-tinny Voices 
2008-07-29 - If you listen to Homogenic and Vespertine in succession, it won't take long to realize that Vespertine is undeniably post-coital compared to its predecessor. It is the most naïve, intimate, sensual album that Björk has created. Appropriately, it is far from everyday listening.
Glacial vocals are empowered through Matmos' organical-mechanical beats. Lyrics strip Björk to her bare skin, making us ask ourselves, "Is she a feminist or not?" And the videos commissioned for Vespertine carry a unique air of pagan nudity (pierced nipples included). Add a rare Björk instrumental, "Frosti," and you've in your hands a musical lapis lazuli, a blizzard snapped tightly between the hinges on an apropos white jewel case.
Compared to the Tibetan-styled calls of independence that molded Homogenic and Post, Vespertine is submissive and docile. Probably spurred on by Björk's then-sophomoric-infatuation with artist Matthew Barney, Vespertine is seen by some as infantile, annoying, persistently lacking.
Vespertine certainly does run a gamut of naivety. "Hidden Place" is hearkening to some little secluded area--that, or it's a vaginal anthem. "Cocoon" is a bit less ambivalent about its sexuality. "He's still inside me," "A train of pearls," and other five-star quotes make the song ridiculously self-concerned. The crackling, semi-fluffy beats and scratchily-mouthed sensualities combine upwards into a strikingly intimate, and impressive, fusion.
The cake-flavored "It's Not Up to You" sounds bleepy and bloopy at first, but proceeds to tell us how powerless we are. Depressing? The beats thankfully counteract any melancholia by acting as Prozac. "Undo" seems a twin to "It's Not Up to You." It builds into a little angelic existentialism, professes some possibly feminist beliefs, and then falls back into slumber.
Then comes the big one. "Pagan Poetry," the video of which featured Björk baring a painful McQueen dress (i.e. sewn into the nipples--yes, you read that right), is a bit overwrought on first listening. But just as you find the song to be a practice in haughtiness, you are dipped into an amazingly primal, dramatic, pro-sex feminist, avant-garde pop song. To say it simply: it's a really good song.
After interlude "Frosti," (which is cute, at best) comes "Aurora." As one of this writer's introductory Björk songs, it is highly loved. Solid yet melting, drying yet dripping, it seeks a comfortable spot in the listener's ears. Powerful and brandishing a little bit of immediacy, "Aurora" must be meditated upon (at least a little) for full effect.
"An Echo, A Stain" is simply not that strong of a song. It's boring, cumbersome. "Sun in My Mouth" isn't likable at first listen, but its grainy cheer grows in time. "Heirloom" is basically Björk singing over an electronic instrumental by Martin Console. It bounces and boils, sharpening its magnificent edge while maintaining a lounge feel.
"Harm of Will" cements the second half of the album as domestically apocalyptic--choral, creeping, and moaning. It teeters on breaking the fragile husk it embodies. It's bittersweet.
And as for "Unison," the final track? Questionable bits of (Björk-wise) ideology aside (Compromising? Is this song going the Steinem route?), "Unison" is just wonderful. Sarcasm, irony, and snarkniess in no way intended. The lyrics are, in honesty, inspiring, but may be too hippie saccharine for some.
Wedged between upbeat and disappointed, Vespertine illuminates it wintry soul while simultaneously adhering to it. Just as powerful as Homogenic depending on the listener, though the conflicting lyrics pose a dogmatic conundrum. Still, a superb album, as well as the most indulgent and isolated in Björk's discography.
EDIT: I should have rated this five-stars. Self-indulgent, sure, but still magnificent. "Frosti," upon further listening, is a perfect winter/autumn song. Highly, highly recommended.
Orgasmical Evolution.
2008-05-20 - This lp with it's cold theme will enthrall you and wrap you inside the warmth of the very ice itself. Truth of juxtaposition. The ice burns, how good it feels.
terrific dvd-audio and the album is one of her best!
2008-05-13 - the sound is truley great on this version. nice use of the sub woofer and surround is very cool also.
recommened.
i hear there is a sacd version. i find i tend to enjoy dvd-a's sound slightly more than sacd but very few systems can truely decode DSD.
Soundscape Scientist
2008-04-23 - This engimatic singer/song-writer has always defied easy classification and as a result, many have been put off by her quirky style of electronica/trip-hop/dance/pop (yes, pop). But where people are baffled, I've always found fascination. And Vespertine is definitely a gold-mine of fascinating and left-of-centre musical ideas. Here, the Icelandic native delves into the privacy of her soul, exploring themes of dreams, romance and intimacy, all packaged in poetic and cryptic lyrics and wrapped in a contemplative and explorative musical idiom. Listen to 'Hidden Place' or 'Cocoon' and you'll experience the idea of romance from a completely new perspective. Pure genius from a musical mad-scientist.
