release date: Sep. 22, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,76]
producer: Björk and Mark Bell
label: Mother Records - nationality: Iceland
Track highlights: 1. "Hunter" - 2. "Jóga" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Unravel" - 4. "Bachelorette" (live on Later) - 5. "All Neon Like" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "5 Years" - 10. "All Is Full of Love"
3rd studio album by Björk org. rel. by One Little Indian in the UK and Mother Records in the EU marks a change of style towards a more introvert an darker electronic sound, which is both simpler, in some places more orchestrated and yet more homogenic, which it really is.
I didn't acquire the album at the time of the release. In fact, I didn't until after 2010. In the late 90s I had tired of Björks singing voice - all her grunts, high-pitched sounds, her... vocal, and her sonic universe in general. In many years to follow I rated this album less than mediocre, which I sort of regret, as it's truly refreshing, daring and in many places truly beautiful. The album contains two absolutely great compositions by Björk on which she demonstrates her vocal range and sonic strengths.
Five singles were released from the album, tracks #2, #4, #1, #8 and #10, in that order. "Jóga" was the only to precede the album release, and it performed the best in Iceland where it topped the charts, just as the album did (as her second consecutive in her homeland), but it didn't go anywhere near top 10 in most other countries. "Bachelorette" was the biggest international single release from the album peaking at number #17 in France and at number #21 on the UK singles chart list. "All Is Full of Love" wasn't released as a single until Jun. '99, and it was presented with her most expensive music video so far. The album fared quite well peaking at number #2 in France, number #4 in the UK as well as making it to top 10 in a number of countries. It also peaked at number #28 on the Billboard 200 in the US making it her so far best-charting album here.
Recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, NME, Spin 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]
