BJÖRKVespertine Record label: Elektra Format: 2xLP/CD Release date: 28 August 2001 We always knew that she was going to be someone special, didn't we? Ever since many of us first heard her open her mouth as a Sugarcube over ten years ago, hearing her collaborate with 808 State or going solo proper with Debut. No need to bring up Dancer In The Dark and Selmasongs - those accolades speak for themselves. Björk is so much more than an amazing voice able to transform from angel speak to guttural growls - she is a composer, an arranger, an Icelandic powerhouse of an artist. If Homogenic threw you off, it'll all make sense after hearing Vespertine. This is an otherworldly album, the type that could probably only exist through hanging out with digital music makers and enlisting the programming wizardry of folks like Matmos, Matthew Herbert, Martin Console, Jake Davies and Thomas Knak. Usually, so many hands in the soup spells disaster, but Björk's voice, words and music are enriched by Vince Mendoza's orchestrations, Zeena Parkins's harp, and Jack Perron's music box adaptations - a very nice touch. Still, amidst the beauty of the clicks, glitches, strings and other additions, Björk's vocals remain the most expressive instrument of them all. Albums like these are the reasons why headphones were invented. {steve crognale}
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