Utopia

This is a surprisingly strong addition to Bjork's catalogue. When I listened to it initially a while ago I thought it was good but nothing crazy, nice instrumentation but too mellow. Now revisiting it I find much more appreciation for Bjork's efforts here. Utopia is her most atmospheric and ambient record to date. But with that it also becomes the most effective as developing this mystical/alien world that is seen in her visual art endeavors. The album feels truly other worldly in a way no other Bjork record has done to this point. Things like Vespertine have worlds of their own obviously but this one feels the most alien. The flutes, which are an instrumental focus, sound amazing throughout the album. The layers and texture of this record are fantastic and it definitely can square up to some of her most beautiful works. The only thing really working against this album is the length. The commitment to ambient soundscapes definitely makes the 71 minute length run a little thin by the end. Still a great addition to Bjork's unmatched catalogue.