•
Rating: A vastly underrated album and it's a shame: "Drawing Restraint 9" is not just a musical homage to the film of Matthew Barney (Bjork's husband), nor a little gift for her love, it's a true album that works even without being accompanied by the film's delusional images. It may be difficult to listen to, but the music captivates: just the first notes of the harp in the opening track "Gratitude" (entrusted to the voice of Will Oldham) are enough to be enthralled: it's a dark, deep, and intangible song with a charming chorus of Japanese children at the end. In "Pearl", the musical journey that began with "Medúlla" continues, returning to origins, to the voice, the oldest of musical instruments: hence the performance by the Inuit singer Tagaq, offering a display of guttural sounds, accompanied by the sho, an ancient Japanese musical instrument that has fallen into disuse.
"Ambergris March" is a cheerful instrumental incursion of glockenspiel and xylophones that lifts the spirits, "Hunter Vessel", a terrifying but enchanting wind incursion, and the interesting "Holographic Entrypoint", ten minutes of Noh theater, as well as the splendid pieces of solo sho like "Shimenawa" or the concluding "Antarctic Return". But it is the pieces sung by Bjork that are the masterpieces: "Storm" above all: unsettling and electronic background noises, storms, sea, and chains with Bjork's voice delivering a magnificent performance, "Cetacea", a delightful duet of glockenspiel and voice with an incredible vocal performance, and "Bath", a delirious song on electric piano.
What can I say? "Drawing Restraint 9" is a daring album, like the film it accompanies, perhaps a transitional album, but an essential step in the career of the Icelandic sprite. Definitely worth listening to.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Gratitude (04:59)
(Vocals : Will Oldham)
July 13, 1946
Dear General MacArthur,
With your permission
I offer wishes of good health
During this heat
That burns anything
The words I slowly put together
Do not flow easily, they only fill my heart
Recently, fulfilling
Your heart's desire
You removed the whaling
Moratorium.
Your gesture brings
A much needed food
To our community
And families
The words I slowly put together
Do not flow easily, they only fill my heart
A million year old fossil
I send to you
This comes from my family
And the ancient sea
A prehistoric impression
Of the modern krill
She feeds the noble whale
And offers you longevity
The words I slowly put together
Do not flow easily, they only fill my heart
Finally, please take good care in the heat.
Sincerely yours,
Shizuka
04 Bath (05:07)
alt sem ma lae duu, ....awaaa,
Oll Birtan alt sem a lae duu...
awaaa, (esk skii)
anerwa..(oll birtan)
meh haen....(haaa wa ) alt sem alae duuu
rolaraa an waaaa!!...
meh aen hayyy...(birtan) e aaawww weay
ahh, kinleof a man..
kiff rrrolerf fa
meh haen
que bean
kevineof man
histim mayy
auknan (....kan)
sarsen leof pin ....lalika
saaaa...
kevinleofa a
histemah
an fagan flaa
lo man duuuuuuuu......
an fagan haen
lo man duuuuuuu.............
kinda kindu
an fagan haen lo man duuuuuuuuu....
awknan (mephagan kelofe)
aww sem sosa ahhh....
auk du cree........
stand du
an fagan fill lo man duuuuuuu...
ahhh..,ahhhhhh...ahhhhh........ahhhhhh............
(kenda, alt du kend)
08 Storm (05:32)
*shipping noises*
scolanscolan scolanscolan scolanscolan scolanscolan scolanscolan
SCANSCANSCAN SKSKSKSKSKSKSsksksksksksk
Brrbrbrbbbrbrehheee
Im Gibberish
Over
A tear
Eran tibble err
Your charms are aleeeyha
Im sane!
Ohrwaaa
Ohwaa waa waa wa wa wa wawawawa
Ideedeedoo yehaaa
Unsenononah
Ya cant tell la le ha
Ya cant tell la leeee
Aheeeeee
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeEE
HowwwOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee
GEEEEEheeheeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Amweee EEEE - EEEE - EEEE - EEEeeee
HowwwwWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
HeeeeheeeeeEEEeeee
OwwOOOOOOEEEEEEiOiOEEEE
AH How
Im a carten
After you kneel on me
A soul in sahkahhh
Fanta
Air
Im coming frawww
OhTUUUUekeah
Into a key yahhh
HandEEEEEEEEy
SEEEEEoohEEEEEE
Im gibberish
After you cant sit on ME THERE
HoWWEEEEEEEEEE
HoWWEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee
(badoop badoop badoop badoop)
HoWWEEEEEEEEEE
HoWWEEEEEEEEEE
(badoop badoop badoop badoop)
HoWWEEEEEEEEEE
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
(badoop badoop badoop badoop)
EeeEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
(badoop badoop badoop badoop)
owah owah owah owah owah ow ow ow owowowowowowowahhhh
*thunderclap*
10 Cetacea (03:12)
Into pattern
Flowing blood
Giving form
In every part
The whole you see
Into pattern
Flowing blood
Giving form
From the moment of commitment, nature conspires to help you
From the moment of commitment, nature conspires to help you
From the moment of commitment, nature conspires to help you
Nature conspires to help you
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By The Punisher
I dare say a deeply dull, rarefied, and vacuous album. Too vacuous.
Once you say 'Bjork' they take it with their eyes closed. Just like I did, damn it...
By KaratekaVHappy
Drawing Restraint 9 is a soundtrack signed and produced by Björk, but by no means her album.
The record is dark, ominous, melancholic, resigned... oppressive.
By tetsuoironman
This soundtrack is much more than just a simple record. It is a treasure chest of secrets that must be discovered fully before being appreciated for its intensity.
"Storm" is the masterpiece of the album: indefinable electronic outbursts, devastating sound waves, thunderstorms, sound storms confront Bjork’s restless voice.
