With every release, Bjork is experimenting more and more with unconventional sounds. 2001’s Vespertine was Bjork’s gorgeous electronic masterpiece; the album flowed on delicate beats that at times mimicked fire crackling or water drops. With Medulla, released at the end of August, Bjork once again outdoes herself by stripping the record of traditional instruments and basing it entirely on vocal tracks.

No longer happy with just mimicking nature, Bjork enlists beat box master Rahzel (The Roots), vocal distortionist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle), and the London/Icelandic choir to capture the intensity of human nature. Tracks like “Where Is The Line” and “Who Is It” are surprisingly full, but Bjork also knows when to pull back and let her stunning vocals shine through the mix (”Desired Constellation,” “Oll Birtan”).

While most die-hard fans will love this record, Medulla is not accessible enough for mainstream radio; which is too bad, because a lot of music lovers are missing a challenging yet refreshing album.

4*
Elektra/Asylum






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