Bjork: Debut Vinyl LP

Bjork's fantastically diverse debut solo album from 1993. Those of us who were around back then probably remember seeing the "Human Behaviour" video for the first time on MTV. Michel Gondry's quirky video was many people's first introduction to the Icelandic signer. Debut found the former Sugarcubes vocalist moving away from her punk roots towards a more electronic sound. The album's four singles put Bjork on everyone's radar; "Human Behaviour," "Venus As A Boy," "Big Time Sensuality" and "Violently Happy" showed the diversity of the tracks that she could deliver. But Bjork brought a heavy jazz influence to the album as well. She worked with jazz harpist Corky Hale on an early version of the jazz standard, "Like Someone in Love." Furthering the jazz influence, Bjork teamed up with The Art Ensemble of Chicago saxophonist Oliver Lake who's work can be heard on "Aeroplane" and "The Anchor Song." Throughout the album there are traces of house, jazz and trip hop (which was just emerging at the time). Bjork's ability to coherently combine these disparate styles was unprecedented at the time. And the fact that she was able to complete an album that is still enjoyable from beginning to end today is just icing on the cake. Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• original release year: 1993
• music label: One Little Indian 2013

reviewed by Michu Meszaros 09/2014