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EDIT INFOBjork - Medulla
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Album Details
- Artist: Bjork
- Album: Medulla
- Label: Elektra
- Year of Release: 2004
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-12-17
RecommendBefore getting ahold of Medulla, I had heard that it was a "Weird" album. I'm thinking that a weird Bjork album had to be completely weird but I found Medulla just brilliant! Bjork has turned over the Arvo Part side of things and gone almost exclusively vocal and it really works for her. There is a slight bit of instrumentation provided by the likes of Mum and Matmos but Medulla is primarily vocal. Choirs from her homeland, Iceland and some from London are very prominent here as well as Rahzel from the Roots. When you are doing an all vocal album, Rahzel would be a godsend with his beat box abilities. There are times when I'm thinking the percussion is pretty amazing only to find out that it is indeed Rahzel. Medulla is a huge step forward from the underspoken Vespertine. I think she is trying hard to stay ahead of the other fairly prominent Icelandic artists like Mum. Here contribution to the Olympics earlier this year, "Oceania" is included here in all its glory. And honestly, the best song that Bjork has ever been involved with is on here. It's called "Who Is It" and it has a spastic beat going on but the vocals swirl around, making Bjork's voice pop out even more. If nothing else, track down this song. Every time I hear it it sends shivers down my spine. If you are thinking that an all vocal album is a little much for you, I would suggest that you at least give this one a once over. If you are into choral and vocal work along the lines of Arvo Part then you will eat Medulla up. This is a very impressive album that works very nicely. It's so good to see an artist like Bjork pushing the boundaries of modern music.
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on 2009-08-21 ToddLevinsonFrank Said:
Once again Bjork gets weird on us, but would we want it any other way? This time out, she fills a CD with songs that are mostly a capella. Now, in this case that doesn't mean there's no music, just means that she created almost all of the music tracks, bass lines, and beats with voices. (There is some instrumentation, but most of the sounds are created by voices.) Medulla makes for an innovative and interesting listen, but certainly not her finest album. Funny, if she wanted to make a quick cool million, there's no doubt she could have a major dance club hit. On almost every album she manages at least one really great one, and often buries it like a gem lost beneath all her other artistic endeavors. Still, she proves she's got the musical intuition and creative flair of some genius/child she seems to have trapped inside of her.
Rating: 4/10
