Medulla

Track listing 1. Pleasure Is All Mine 2. Show Me Forgiveness 3. Where Is the Line 4. Vokuro 5. Oll Birtan 6. Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) 7. Submarine 8. Desired Constellation: Sonnets / Unrealities XI 9. Oceania 10. Sonnets / Unrealities XI 11. Ancestors 12. Mouth's Cradle 13. Midvikudags 14. Triumph of a Heart Details Contributing artists: Peter Van Hooke Producer: Bjork, Mark Bell Distributor: WEA (Distributor) Recording type: Studio Recording mode: Stereo SPAR Code: n/a Album notes Personnel: Björk (vocals, piano, bass instrument, programming); Robert Wyatt (vocals, sampler); Mike Patton, Tagaq, Icelandic Choir (vocals); Rahzel, Nico Muhly (piano); Peter Van Hooke (gong); Mark Bell , Matmos, Valgeir Sigurdsson, Shlomo, Jake Davies (programming).

Normally, an artist such as Bjork with a mass audience across the globe steadily eases off as the back-catalog starts to grow. However, Medulla, the fifth proper studio album from Bjork is without a doubt the most challenging collection of music she has ever released.

For the most part, the album is made up of layers upon layers of processed vocal parts arranged in either harmony or dissonance such as "Vokuro" and "Oll Birtan," respectively. Some, such as "Show Me Forgiveness" are simple acapella, the aforementioned sounding like a vocal cut from Debut minus the music. Another echo of Bjork days gone by is "Desired Constellation," a slow trancy pulse underpinning her distinct vocals. "Where Is the Line," "Who Is It," and "Triumph of a Heart" are a bit grimier with a semi-urban twist, the latter a fantastically funky beatbox number with an outstanding introduction, the closest moment to a pop song appearing on Medulla.

Although traditional instruments and breaks have been removed from this album, Medulla is no great departure for Bjork but in a sense it is radically different from any of her previous work. Some will love it, some hate it, and some just won't be sure what to think. --David Trueman

Amazon.com Special Content

An Interview with Björk
Björk shared her thoughts about the directions she is taking with Medulla in our Amazon.com interview.