My choice of Bjork may seem a little out of place with my previous selections for this blog, but she is one of the most underrated female vocalists of the past 20 years. At times her voice possesses the qualities of this fragile heavenly being, then almost suddenly she transforms into a bold and empowered heroine. I am hypnotized by her.The eclectic mix of musical styles she explores on each album are never out of place, as her voice is the binding agent that brings these bold compositions to life. She's not only a singer but a composer; like many Icelandic artists, she has tendencies to build these very sweeping an atmospheric pieces. Her early background in punk music manifests itself at times in very jarring fashion; the flipside to that, is her classical piano training that is brought out through her synthesized and electronic arrangements. I am also drawn in by her very organic and animalistic lyrics that play into the mythic nymph character she embodies.
Unfortunately, she is never mentioned in the conversation like a Christina Aguilera or Beyonce when it comes to outstanding modern female vocalists. I hope this week sheds some light on a woman deserved of those praises.
Not featured in this weeks listening is one of my favorite tracks, here she is performing Joga live on British television with some accompaniment:
suggested listening:
Debut - '93
Post - '95
Vespertine - '01
