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Rating: Björk's mental surrealism has always fascinated me, but I have never completely loved this artist: I have unfortunately always remained on the fringes of her unreal world, attempting to embark on a spectrochemical quest to make the "enchanted frost" of her music my own. But always in vain.
A matter of sensitivity.
I then read, here and there, comments on "Medúlla" that had kept me away from listening. Because they spoke of a new album devoid of electronic arrangements, focused exclusively on the voice: a narcissistic album of self-celebration, refined, yes, but too contrived.
Imagining a Björk too glassy and solitary, I therefore expected a negative judgment on her new work.
Instead, it seemed to me complete, fascinating, and courageous, rich in nuances, enriched by the participation of Mike Patton - invisible and hypnotic, the otherworldly duet with the legendary Robert Wyatt, and above all, the contribution of the Iceland Choir, descending into a swirling and submerged atmosphere; there is a sensation of walking on tiptoes while being possessed by waves of vertigo.
The rest of the album is a truly subtle army of voices leading to atmospheres of devastating peace and profound restlessness, thanks to hints of sublime surrealism, typical essences of the Icelandic creature.
You feel in the nighttime cradle of thoughts, savoring the gentle travail of the soul that wanders rigidly in an incredulous vision. Like an animal that, stealthy, ventures into a bud of ultrasounds to encounter an imaginary unconscious.
It must be said, however, that the album was not liked by everyone and in general has divided opinions. Personally, I found it a delightful discovery, appreciated especially because it is pleasant to reconsider things, and it is a significant satisfaction to abandon the state of resignation to make room for genuine complacency.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Show Me Forgiveness (01:23)
Show me forgiveness
for having lost faith in myself
and let my own interior up
to inferior forces
the shame is endless
but if soon start forgiveness
the girl might live
04 Vökuró (03:14)
Bærinn minn
bærinn minn og þinn
sefur sæll í kyrrð
fellur mjöll
hljótt í húmi á jörð
grasið mitt
grasið mitt og þitt
geymir mold til vors
Hjúfrar lind
leynt við brekkurót
vakir eins og við
lífi trútt
kyrrlátt kalda vermsl
augum djúps
útí himinfyrrð
starir stillt um nótt
Langt í burt
vakir veröld stór
grimmum töfrum tryllt
eirðarlaus
óttast nótt og dag
augu þín
óttalaus og hrein
brosa við mér björt
Vonin mín
blessað brosið þitt
vekur ljóð úr værð
hvílist jörð
hljóð í örmum snæs
liljuhvít
lokar augum blám
litla stúlkan mín
05 Öll birtan (01:52)
hal... hal... hal... hal... hal(tu, tu)
hal... hal(tu,tu) hal... hal(tu,tu)
euk birtan beleu stan moosep
benlae dan pine liddae tiddie flaybu in
euk grave euks stan
06 Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (03:57)
His embrace : a fortress
it fuels me and places
a skeleton of trust
right beneath us
bone by bone
stone by stone
If you ask yourself
patiently
and carefully:
who is it?
who is it?
Who is it - that never lets you down?
Who is it - that gave you back your crown?
and the ornaments are
they're going around
now they're handing it over
they're handing it over
handing it over
Who is it - that never lets you down?
Who is it - that gave you back your crown?
and the ornaments are
they're going around
now -- they're handing it over
handing it over
He demands a closeness
we all have earned a lightness
carry my joy on the left
carry my pain on the right
If you ask yourself
now patiently
and carefully:
who is it?
Who is it - that never lets you down?
Who is it - that gave you back your crown?
and the ornaments are
they're going around
and I'm handing it over
handing it over
handing
Who is it - that never lets you down?
Who is it - that gave you back your crown?
and the ornaments are
they're going around
now I'm handing it over
handing it over
07 Submarine (03:13)
When will it be time
to document
- do it now!
this submarine behaviour
- do it now!
when time?
to return
- do it now!
- do it now!
shake us out of the heavy deep sleep
- shake us now!
- do it now!
- do it now!
shake us out of the heavy deep sleep
- do it now!
08 Desired Constellation (04:55)
It's tricky when you feel someone has done something on your behalf
It's slippery when your sense of justice murmurs underneath and is asking you,
How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
With a palm full of stars
I throw them like dice, repeatedly
On the table, repeatedly
I shake them like dice
And throw them on the table, repeatedly
Until the desired constellation appears.
How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
And did you hear, how am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
A fit memory.
09 Oceania (03:24)
One breath away
from Mother Oceania
your nimble feet make prints
in my sand
You have done
good for yourselves
since you left my wet embrace
and crawled ashore
Every boy is a snake is a lily
Every pearl is a lynx is a girl
Sweet like harmony
made into flesh
you dance by my side
children sublime
You show me continents
I see the islands
You count the centuries
I blink my eyes
Hawks and sparrows
race in my waters
stingrays are floating
across the sky
Little ones
my sons and my daughters
your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why
your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why
11 Ancestors (04:08)
I'll pick you
I'll take you
I admit
he said
I did it
I'll play the fool
Underneath
Me
I
You
But, I told
And undo
And say, undo
Live
I say
And will
And we all
13 Miðvikudags (01:24)
Performed by Björk
Programming: Björk, Jake Davies
"I just nicknamed it "Miðvikudags", which means wednesday...s, it was basically because I did it on a wednesday -- sometimes you don't know what to call them, you know. This is similar to me with "Öll Birtan" -- that it's like a little interlude and maybe shows where this whole tree came from, that it's from me being 18, or even younger - being like 10, and having two rubbish tape recorders and recording my voice into one, and then recording on the other one, the tape recorder and me, adding a voice on top, and then back, playing with a teaspoon on an ashtray or something. Kind of just back to that, and there's no words in this one either, it's just gibberish." (Björk, XFM 25aug04)
14 Triumph of a Heart (04:10)
The nerves are sending
shimmering signals
all through my fingers
the veins support
blood that gushes
pulsively towards
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
The stubborn trunks
of these legs of mine
serve as pathways
for my favourite fuel
heading upwards towards
my kidneys
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
Smooth
soft, red
velvety lungs
are pushing a network
of oxygen joyfully
through a nose
through a mouth
but all enjoys
all enjoys
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
The triumph of a heart - that gives all : that gives all
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Other reviews
By Milk
"Like blood, but even deeper and darker."
Bjork has managed to perfectly hit her target of communicating to the human soul sensations that are otherwise inexplicable.
By Adil
Only Björk, muse of psychotic directors and anti-pop icon par excellence, could have created an album so unbearably snobbish in its disarming simplicity.
Bjork never repeats herself. All this for the (joy?) of her loyal listeners.
By Me Myself & I
Medulla is a masterpiece of modern music, an avant-garde work.
The music tries to communicate through its absence, where there is an attempt to find greater simplicity in art.
By The_dull_flame
"Medúlla is not a mere experiment, it’s poetry."
"Medúlla is the artistic peak of this small great Icelandic woman."
