Vespertine

Vespertine is Björk's 4th studio album, released in August 2001. It was recorded in several different studios based in Spain, England, New York City & Iceland throughout 1999-2001.

Björk began working on this record during the filming of the 2000 drama Dancer in the Dark. She wanted to create a more intimate & domestic-sounding album compared to the brash nature of Homogenic, which I genuinely adored when I heard it 2 weeks ago.

Vespertine reflected her newfound interest for minimalist music, and composed arrangements with thin sounding instruments e.g. harp, clavichord, strings & music boxes.

Let's explore the artwork first of all: it's entrancing. The aesthetics perfectly capture the overall vibe of this album, which is intimate, sensual & filled with desire.

What can I say to be honest? This is just an experience, a VERY beautiful one. The kind that just lifts you off the ground and into an otherwordly trance that's just full of love, peace & tranquility.

The production is restrained, filled with the aforementioned instruments mixed with glitch pop-inspired effects that's chilling but very hypnotic. The haros have this icy sting to them that just send shivers across the body and sends your soul to another realm.

Lyrically, the album talks about sex & love. Björk takes risks as she delves into some very sensual territory throughout and does a perfect job at creating that sense of desire.
Her vocals are more quiet and enchanting as she alludes to some explicit degrees of pleasure and spirituality.

Being a drastic contrast to her predecessor, Björk proves that even the most quiet and more intimate nature of her presence can invoke the exact same emotions.

If Homogenic was the beast that's unleashed, exploded and waiting to start anew, Vespertine is the cocoon of a new incarnation that's discovered a newfound leash of love.

A fantastic & diverse range of talent, Björk is a singer of many talents who just never ceases to amaze me!