Homogenic

by Bjoerk

Overview

By the late '90s, Björk's playful, unique world view and singular voice became as confining as they were defining. With its surprising starkness and darkness, 1997's Homogenic shatters her "Icelandic pixie" image. Possibly inspired by the end of her relationship with drum'n'bass kingpin Goldie, Björk sheds her more precious aspects, displaying more emotional depth than even her best previous work indicated. Her collaborators -- LFO's Mark Bell, Mark "Spike" Stent, and Post contributor Howie B -- help make this album not only her emotionally bravest work, but her most sonically adventurous as well. A seamless fusion of chilly strings (courtesy of the Icelandic String Octet), stuttering, abstract beats, and unexpected touches like accordion and glass harmonica, Homogenic alternates between dark, uncompromising songs such as the icy opener, "Hunter," and more soothing fare like the gently percolating "All Neon Like." The noisy, four-on-the-floor catharsis of "Pluto" and the raw vocals and crunching beats of "5 Years" and "Immature" reveal surprising amounts of anger, pain, and strength in the face of heartache. "I dare you to take me on," Björk challenges her lover in "5 Years," and wonders on "Immature," "How could I be so immature/To think he would replace/The missing elements in me?" "Bachelorette," a sweeping, brooding cousin to Post's "Isobel," is possibly Homogenic's saddest, most beautiful moment, giving filmic grandeur to a stormy relationship. Björk lets a little hope shine through on "Jòga," a moving song dedicated to her homeland and her best friend, and the reassuring finale, "All Is Full of Love." "Alarm Call"'s uplifting dance-pop might seem out of place with the rest of the album, but as its title implies, Homogenic is her most holistic work. It might not represent every side of Björk's music, but Homogenic offers some of her most impressive heights. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	10/11/2019
Label:	One Little Indian
UPC:	5016958089177

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bjoerk   Primary Artist,Vocals,Keyboards
Howie B   Guest Artist
Gavyn Wright   Violin
Chris Laurence   Bass
Michael Thompson   Horn
George Robertson   Viola
Stephen Henderson   Timpani,Timbales
Sigurdur Bjarki Gunnarsson   Cello
John Tunnell   Cello
Paul Gardhaim   Bass
Hrund Hardardottir   Viola
Perry Montague-Mason   Violin
Icelandic String Octet   Strings
Maciej Rakowski   Violin
James McLeod   Violin
Peter Lale   Viola
Martin Loveday   Cello
Alasdair Malloy   Harmonica (Glass)
Mark Bell   Keyboards
Helen Tunstall   Harp
Una Sveinbjarnardottir   Violin
Peter Oxer   Violin
Mark Berrow   Violin
Guy Sigsworth   Keyboards,Clavichord,Pipe Organ
Paul Pritchard   Bass,Brass
Trevor Morais   Drums,Electronic Drums
Jeff Bryant   Horn
Benedict Cruft   Violin
Paul Gardham   Bass,Brass
Ben Cruft   Violin
Paul Kegg   Cello
Bill Hawkes   Viola
Frank Ricotti   Drums (Snare)
Helen Liebmann   Cello
Roger Garland   Violin
Mike Brittain   Bass
Yasuhiro Kobayashi   Accordion
Vaughan Armon   Violin
Sigurbjorn Bernhardsson   Violin
Sigrun Edvaldsdottir   Violin
Sif Tulinius   Violin
Jon R. Ornolfsson   Cello
Moeidur Anna Sigurdardottir   Viola
Roger Chase   Viola
Alasdair Alloy   Harmonica
Jeffrey Bryant   Horn
Wilfred Gibson   Violin

Technical Credits

Rob Murphy   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Danny Brown   Mixing Assistant
Paul Walton   Mixing Assistant
Bjoerk   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Sjon   Composer
Sie Medway-Smith   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Steve Price   Engineer,String Engineer
Nick Knight   Photography
Jason Westbrook   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Jason Groucott   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Kirsten Cowie   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Stephen Henderson   Musician
Katy England   Stylist
Alexander McQueen   Art Direction
Richard Brown   Programming
Martin Landquist   Arranger
Traditional   Composer
Deodato   Arranger,Orchestration,Transcription
Mark "Spike" Stent   Crew,Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Mark Bell   Crew,Composer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Markus Dravs   Crew,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Isobel Griffiths   Orchestra Contractor
Guy Sigsworth   Composer,Producer
Rebecca Storey   Mixing Assistant,Assistant
Danny Joe Brown Band   Assistant,Programming
Russel Polden   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Tony Stanton   Copyist,Music Copyist
Eumir Deodato   Arranger
Steve Henderson   Musician
Tricky   Composer
Sigurjon Sigurdsson   Composer
Bjoerk Gudjmundsdottir   Composer
Howie B   Mixing,Producer,Programming,Mixing Engineer
Marius de Vries   Composer,Programming
Nellee Hooper   Composer
James Loughrey   Assistant,Mixing Assistant