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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Moon |
| 2. Thunderbolt |
| 3. Crystalline |
| 4. Cosmogony |
| 5. Dark Matter |
| 6. Hollow |
| 7. Virus |
| 8. Sacrifice |
| 9. Mutual Core |
| 10. Solstice |
| 11. Hollow Original 7 minute version |
| 12. Dark Matter with choir + organ |
| 13. Nattura |
Product Description
Review
Impressively 21st century stuff, for sure. But while her commitment to composition away from typical means - she doesn't play piano or guitar, so seeking new options is both a necessity and a novelty - is commendable, experimentation is nothing without accessibility, especially for a musician with an audience as sizeable as Björk's. Thankfully, Biophilia serves as wonderfully as a 'standard' album as anything else - a plus, given that interest in her app series is, one imagines, slightly on the wane (it certainly is in this writer's household). Conceptual in the sense that each song is associated with a readily presented theme - typically of either an earthbound or extraterrestrial nature, from lunar cycles (opener Moon) to tectonic plates beneath our feet (Mutual Core) - it doesn't overload the listener with powerful ideology. If desired, one can detach from the lyrical message and dive into a most rewardingly singular din - again, Björk has crafted sounds which are entirely hers alone.
Over the years her voice has mellowed - now, rather than fly off the scale to the occasional detriment of the music around it, it's a controlled presence, complementing perfectly the whirrs and clicks, static and choral highs which surround it. And the music flits from the sublime to the strikingly brutal - the aforementioned Mutual Core slips from blissful ambience into bombastic electronic percussion, leaving the senses reeling, only to fade back into a comforting lilt; and Crystalline's jungle-flavoured breakdown come its climax (part-Aphex Twin, part-Reprazent) is one of the best jaw-on-the-floor moments in 2011 pop so far. Closer Solstice is a mellow affair which recalls the sounds of a non-Björk app, namely the relax-into-this puzzler Quell and its Steve Cravis soundtrack. Elsewhere, there are echoes of albums past: Hollow is a dark, menacing relation of the delicate fare that dominated 2001's Vespertine; Cosmogony commands brass into action, bubbling beneath heavenly choral backing vocals; and Thunderbolt initially stirs unlikely thoughts of The Anchor Song, from 1993's Debut, before progressing into something multi-layered and magical.
Focusing on the genesis of Biophilia is an unfortunate inevitability given how much attention has been placed on both its writing process and its newfangled method of distribution. But this is far from a folly, an endeavour designed to flog touch-screen tablets to the singer's fanbase. It's a mesmerising album which confirms that Björk can weave dumfounding wonders from Silly String - whatever's placed before her, she can turn to her advantage, taking her audience on a trip the likes of which no other contemporary artist is capable of planning, let alone embarking on. In a word: amazing. Again.
--Mike Diver
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
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Customer Reviews
When I finally recieved the album there were tracks i was instantly drawn to like "Virus", "thunderbolt", "Cosmogony" and "moon" and there were those like "Dark Matter", "Hollow" and "Mutual Core" that I didnn't know what to think of at first but after a few plays there isn't a song on the album I dislike at all, in fact it's an amazing album in my top 3 Bjork albums actually. I love the creepiness of some of the songs and the dark undertones and the instrumentals are wonderful as is Bjork's voice as usual.
This album is probably not for everyone, for fans that are stuck in the past hoping for annother "Homogenic" and complaining about every album since it's probably not worth buying but for fans or newcommers to Bjork that are open minded and willing to accept the new directions Bjork is going in the album is a must have and well deserving of this 5 star rating.
The opening track "Moon" is very gentle and subtle yet sombre at the same time, with minimal arrangements, focussing more on Bjork's story telling abilities. "Thunderbolt" is very intriguing and features some very different sounds which make you want to listen over and over again. The mesmerising lead single "Crystalline" is the first track to have a consistent rhythm throughout as well as a heavy bass and a drum and bass section towards the end of the track. "Cosmogony" is a slightly easier track to follow with a distinctive chorus and a simpler melody, but is just as interesting and dynamic. "Dark Matter" is very experimental and sounds very nonsensical which adds to its appeal. "Hollow" has a manic orchestral feel to it and is appealingly chaotic until a more structured rhythm is added towards the end of the track. "Virus" is my favourite song as it has a very subtle but beautiful melody and rhythm, and a sadness that is not only apparent in the music, but also in the lyrics, portraying the devastating effects that viruses can have. "Sacrifice" is the most experimental and tragic sounding track with mysterious calm verses and a harsh rhythmic chorus. "Mutual Core" has a similar structure, but is edgier and rockier and slightly easier to follow. "Solstice" ends the album as it started with gentle harp arrangements and plaintive vocals.
A lot of thought has been put into this project and "Biophilia" does have the feel of a concept album, whereby the topic has more importance than the music. But, rather than having a negative effect, this seems to enhance the listeners' pleasure and provides a collections of sounds that can be constantly revisited. So, once again, Bjork manages to create a beautiful and magical masterpiece.
I've got almost everything from her solo career until now.
This album sounds like a collection of extra tracks based on her last few... Read more
A big piece of music, a milestone on its kind.
With the harpish intro of "Moon", this beautiful journey starts with cycles and phases as... Read more
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