•
Rating:
"Vespertine" is, for me, Bjork's best album. In this record, the artist fully expresses her creativity and musical sensitivity, offering true gems.
The genesis of this album, released in August 2001, was quite unique: initially, Bjork wanted to use sounds created exclusively with the computer (the project was supposed to be titled "Domestika," like a track that later became a b-side) and create a minimalist album. Then everything changed: an Inuit girls' choir and an arranged orchestra directed by maestro Vince Mendoza (who, among other things, also arranged the wonderful "Ricomincio da qui" by Malika Ayane) were brought in. The arrangements are therefore rich in tracks like "Hidden Place", supreme, chosen as the first single. A cold electronic beat opens the track with Bjork's delicate voice, then gradually it builds with strings, heavenly choirs, and some flutes. "Aurora" also contemplates a constant intervention of choir and orchestra. In this regard, I recommend searching for the performances the artist held in 2002 at the Royal Opera House on Youtube to promote the album: they are touching!
The other gems in the album are "It’s Not Up To You", which should have been released as a single!! It's the most varied track: minimal at times, overflowing in the arrangement at other points. "Undo" is mystical, calm, meditative, another masterpiece. "An Echo A Stain" is the most "challenging" track on the album: practically atonal (it seems to be in A major, but Bjork sings notes foreign to the key), immersed in a haunting and heartbreaking atmosphere at the same time. "Pagan Poetry" and "Frosti" are enveloping, both guided by the sound of a music box. "Cocoon" is a lullaby, minimalist, with a keyboard, rustles, and a delicately erotic voice. "Unison" is a heavenly track, with a beautiful melody. "Heirloom" and "Sun in my mouth" are appreciable but minor. "Harm Of Will" is completely negligible.
The album artwork is excellent: I recommend buying the original (I found it in a shop in my city for only 5€, so I took advantage of it!! And I did great)!
For Bjork's beginners, I suggest starting with this album, then continuing with "Medúlla," her second masterpiece. Bjork is a unique artist in her genre, difficult to appreciate but highly enjoyable if listened to "with the right ears." I recommend it to anyone who doesn't stop at something more "challenging," less predictable than what's "trending."
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Hidden Place (05:29)
through the warmthest cord of care
your love was sent to me
i'm not sure what to do with it
or where to put it
i'm so close to tear
and so close to
simply calling you up
and simply suggesting
we go to that hidden place
now, i have been slightly shy
but i can smell a pinch of hope
to almost have allowed once fingers
to stroke
the fingers i was given to touch with
but careful careful
there lies my passion hidden
there lies my love
i'll hide it under a blanket
lull it to sleep
i'll keep it in a hidden place
he's
the beautifullest
fragilest
still strong
dark and divine
and the littleness of his movements
hides himself
he invents a charm
that makes him invisible
hides in the hair
can i hide there too?
hide in the hair of him
seek solace
sanctuary
in that hidden place
02 Cocoon (04:28)
who would have known : that a boy like him
would have entered me lightly restoring my blisses
who would have known : that a boy like him
after sharing my core would stay going nowhere
who would have known : a beauty this immense
who would have known : a saintly trance
who would have known : miraculous breath
to inhale a beard loaded with courage
who would have known : that a boy like him
possessed of magical sensitivity
would approach a girl like me
who carresses
cradles
his head in a bosom
he slides inside
half awake / half asleep
we faint back
into sleephood
when i wake up
the second time in his arms : gorgeousness!
he's still inside me!
who would have known?
a train of pearls cabin by cabin
is shot precisely across an ocean
from a mouth
from
a
from a mouth of a girl like me
to a boy
to a boy
to a boy
03 It's Not Up to You (05:08)
i wake up
and the day feels broken
i tilt my head
i'm trying to get an angle
'cause the evening
i've always longed for
it could still happen
how do i master
the perfect day
six glasses of water
seven phonecalls
if you leave it alone
it might just happen
anyway
it's not up to you
well, it never really was...
if you wake up
and the day feels a-broken
just lean into the crack
just lean into the crack
and it will tremble ever so nicely
notice
how it sparkles
down there
i can decide what i give
but it's not up to me
what i get given
unthinkable surprises
about to happen
but what they are
it's not up to you
well, it never really was...
there is too much
clinging
to peak
there is too much
pressure
04 Undo (05:38)
it's not meant to be a strife
it's not meant to be a struggle uphill
you're trying too hard
surrender
give yourself in
you're trying too hard
you're trying too hard
it's not meant to be a strife
it's not meant to be a struggle uphill
sweetly
to enjoy
it's not meant to be a strife
it's not meant to be a struggle uphill
it's warmer now : lean into it
unfold in a generous way
surrender
surrender
undo
it's not meant to be a strife
it's not meant to be a struggle uphill
i'm praying
to be
in a generous mode
the kindness kind
the kindness kind
to share me
quietly ecstatic
it's not meant to be a strife
it's not meant to be a struggle uphill
undo
undo : if you're bleeding
undo : if you're sweating
undo : if you're crying, don't be
undo
05 Pagan Poetry (05:14)
pedalling through
the dark currents h
i find an accurate copy
a blueprint
of the pleasure in me
swirling
black lilies
totally ripe
a secret code carved
swirling
black lilies
totally ripe
he offers a handshake
crooked
five fingers
they form a pattern
yet to be matched
swirling
black lilies
totally ripe
on the surface simplicity
but the darkest pit in me
is pagan poetry
pagan poetry
swirling
black lilies
totally ripe
morse : coded : signals
they pulsate : they wake me up
from my
hibernate
on the surface simplicity
but the darkest pit in me
is pagan poetry
pagan poetry
i love him
this time
i'm gonna keep me to myself
this time
i'm gonna keep my all to myself
she loves him
but he makes me want to
hand myself over
she loves him
07 Aurora (04:39)
treading
the glacier head
looking hard for moments of shine
from twilight
to twilight
ahhh...
aurora
goddess sparkle
shoot me
beyond this suffer
the need is great
aurora
ahhh...
aurora
goddess sparkle
a mountain shade
suggests your shape
i tumble down on my knees
fill the mouth with snow
the way
it
melts
i wish
to melt into you
aurora
ahhh...
spark the sun off
spark the sun off
spark the sun off
spark the sun off
08 An Echo, a Stain (04:04)
She touched
My arm
And smiled
One of these days
Soon
Very soon
Love you 'til then
Love you 'til then
Feel my breath
On your neck
And your heart
Will race
Don't say no to me
You can't say no to me
I won't see you
Denied
I'm sorry you saw that
I'm sorry he did it
An echo
A stain
A stain
I can't say no to you
I can't say no to you
Say nothing
Free falling
Complete
09 Sun in My Mouth (02:40)
i will wade out
till my thighs
are steeped
in burning flowers
i will take the sun in my mouth
and leap into
the ripe air
alive : with closed eyes
to dash
against darkness
in the sleeping curves
of my body
i shall enter
fingers
of smooth mastery
with chasteness
of sea-girls
will i complete the mystery
of my flesh
will i
complete
the mystery
of my flesh
my flesh
la la la la la la la la la la la la la
10 Heirloom (05:12)
i have a recurring dream
every time i lose my voice
i swallow little glowing lights
my mother and son baked for me
during the night
they do a trapeze walk
until they're in the sky
right above my bed
while i'm asleep
my mother and son pour into me
warm glowing oil
into my wide open throat
i have a recurring dream
every time i feel a hoarseness
i swallow warm glowing lights
my mother and son baked for me
they make me feel so much better
they make me feel better
we have a recurring dream
everytime we lose our voices
we dream we swallow little lights
our mother and sons bake for us
during the night
they do a little trapeze walk
until they're in the sky
right above our heads
right above our heads
while we're asleep
my mother and son pour into us
warm glowing oil
into our wide open throats
i have a recurring dream...
they make me feel better
they make me feel better
11 Harm of Will (04:36)
if there's a troubador washing
it is he
if there's a man about town
it is he
it there's one to be sought
it is he
if there are nine she's
they are bought for me
this way is as is she
and he placed her unclothed longlegged
on top of the family tree
and if he has chosen the point while she is under him
then leave her coily placed crouched sucking him
for it is i
with her on knee
i leave her without pith or feel
and leave her be
leave it be for he controls what there'll be
he makes his face known to none
for if he is seen then all will
and all will know
know me
12 Unison (06:47)
one hand allows the other
so much on me
born stubborn, me
will always be
before you count 123
i will have grown my own private branch
of this tree
you : gardener
you : discipliner
domestically
i can obey all of your rules
and still be : me
i never thought i would compromise
i never thought i would compromise
i never thought i would compromise
let's unite tonight
we shouldn't fight
embrace you tight
let's unite tonight
i thrive best
hermit style
with a beard and a pipe
and a parrot on each side
but now i can't do this without you
i never thought i would compromise
i never thought i would compromise
i never thought i would compromise
let's unite tonight
we shouldn't fight
embrace you tight
let's unite tonight
one hand loves the other
so much on me
let's unite tonight
we shouldn't fight
embrace you tight
let's unite tonight
let's unite tonight
we shouldn't fight
embrace you tight
let's
ahhh...
unison
unison
unison
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By lovi
From my honest perspective, I find it a masterpiece of class and skill.
This is an album that lives on silences, sometimes sad and melancholic, other times dreamy and hopeful.
By So_av
Bjork is much, much more than an Icelandic pixie or techno-naturalist.
Vespertine captures the magic and the nuances of Bjork’s intense world, serenely making even those who want to embark on this journey with her feel ethereal.
By desade
"Vespertine remains the best result of the musical experimentation performed by the ice sprite."
"You should let yourself be enveloped like in a cocoon, just as happens to Bjork in the 'Cocoon' video."
