Bjork - Vespertine

One Little Indian/Elektra

Vespertine is Bjork's fourth studio album and commonly paired with Homogenic as her 'best' work. Today is its 20th Anniversary, and is there anything more pleasing than realizing an album has aged supremely well - time on its side offering a meditative quality to its being.

Vespertine is home to a gorgeous and somewhat minimal sound palette. It makes it spacious to the nth degree. Near-cavernous in its sonic size but not in an over-bearing manner - quite the opposite in fact. It has been trimmed of all of its fat. All the intricate details add to Vespertine in someway, there's no unnecessary sounds or additions. Everything comes together to accommodate and bolster the sound design. I think it's safe to say that this is one of the most well produced and arranged albums of all time. It really is mind-blowing on the sonic front and captivating in its simplicity.

Vespertine remains as intimate and close as it possibly can considering its aforementioned cavernous quality. It's a tricky one to nail down - it simultaneously glides through outer space while remaining at arms length. It's a bit of a paradox indeed. A definite trait, unique to few records, that keeps Vespertine at the forefront of the music world. Radiohead's 'Kid A has a similar spacious, glacial feel.

A universe unto its own and one to get utterly swept away in. An albums ability to remain captivating after years in the public sphere is an indicator of just how special a piece of work is, that goes for art outside of music also. Vespertine isn't necessarily the sort of album that you would show to your mates, but when you find out that one of them knows the album it tends to mean something. It's not 'music' for music's sake.

Favourite Track: Unison

August 27th, 2001.