Review: Björk – Biophilia
Björk - Biophilia (2011) [One Little Indian] // Grade: C+
While the world is still catching up with the avant pop of The Sugarcubes, Björk has spent the bulk of her career slightly behind the times. A master of marketing or an underground Madonna, she has always managed to find the right team of producers to give her music the appearence of being cutting edge. Truth be told, the majority of her output rarely takes any real risks.
Biophilla, although mainly self produced, seems no different. It is a pretty ambient album, all atmosphere with the occasional breakcore passage and drum and bass blast, but theres a problem here. During the Post era, it was easier to cover her tracks. Only spotters and DJs caught that the sound was completely lifted from the Bristol downtempo movement. In today’s Blog Age, however, the counterfeit is frighteningly apparent. The opening strings of “Moon” actually fool one into thinking they have just popped in a new Joanna Newsom album. Same can be said for the tinker piano in “Crystalline.” It’s nothing new for her, as she’s been mining the underground for the past two decades. As well as Newsom, Biophilla strongly pays tribute to the sounds of John Cale produced Nico. Sadly, Björk’s iconic warble lacks the strength and power that made albums like Camera Obscura cold and terrifying.
It seems the only way Björk can elude being called six years too late is to announce that she spent the past five making this album. To be honest, Björk has never changed her vocal performance much since she went solo. She simply manages to update her beats every five years or so to appear like she is changing with the times. Björk knows her audience though. With a big Apple tie in, this album will no doubt wind up on little white earbuds all over the world. It’s a pleasant listen, but nothing challenging. Which wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t being passed off as a work of art.
September 30th, 2011 at 2:00 am
wtf? joanna newsom? bjork used harps since years ago, she didn’t discovered harps cause of joanna, the same sound? c’mon is an instrument even did you know that the instrument inc rystalline is an old celeste wich was customized with metal bars to sound like a gamelan and can be controlled from a touchscreen dispositive. what do you espect is just an instrument, what do you expect from bjork? she’s not mimicking nobody. camera obscura? what the fuck? nobody knows them. why don’t you do some research and start being less envy abouyt a woman who is allways pushing the frontiers of music as art. research and you will know why this album is like that, she oboiuslly can do sounds like in homogenic or post. but surely isn’t his interest. even for biophilia you have to know that she has some limitations, the songs has to be about a single theme related to nature and it must have an special instrument and must be able to betranslated into an app, and the lyrics have to be related to and even the general vibe of the song. does this happen in all the biophilia songs? yes. so your critique is lazy and pretentious.
September 30th, 2011 at 9:47 am
the album leaked a couple days ago and you already have a scalding review up. doesn’t sound like you listened much: harp? must be joanna newsom! accented european songstress? must be nico!
September 30th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Listen to album. Trying/WANTING to write something of worth but not really confident in ability. Kinda hate women. Blend some random musicians that have vaginas. Shake. Tastes bad. Pour hopes of a writing career down drain.
September 30th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
How is the exactly scolding? It calls the album mediocre. And Biophilia has been circulating for a lot longer than a few days.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
The album IS a piece of art!!!!
September 30th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
And everyone is entitled to an opinion. I simply presented mine. As far as hating women? A look a few weeks back and one can find a GLOWING review of the recent DOG EAT DOG reissue. Yes yes and yes… I read all about the use of obscure instrumentation blended with iPad apps.. the same as everyone else. The question I asked myself was twofold: was it listenable and did it live up to the high concept that its press kit promises. My answers were yes and no.
I have heard this is all backlash coming from a posting on a Bjork fan board… so be it. I personally love MF DOOM and was never afraid to admit that THE MOUSE AND THE MASK and BORN LIKE THIS were mediocre in comparison to the body of his work.
It is simply my opinion that Bjork doesn’t deliver what her PR offers. It is a pretty album, it is sure to be played in plenty a coffee shop and a multitude of remixes will come out that make all the songs interesting for a couple of years… just like EVERY other Bjork album.
Want to hear a chick that I really dig?: listen to tUnE-yArDs. That broad is hella talented.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
haha, you managed to put into words exactly how i feel about bjork. thank you!
November 9th, 2011 at 3:44 am
Great post. Painfully obvious what Bjork has been doing for years, and her newest ‘masterpiece’ is no different. Think she has a tougher time these days, covering up her thieving. Still love her old stuff, and was a massive fan but find her somewhat embarrassing lately.