Vespertine [Box set] [Import] [Limited Edition]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Taken from her 2001 album, 'Vespertine', this deluxe white digibox contains 12 individual paper sleeves, each featuring a song from the album & its own artwork taken from video stills. Limited to 2000.

Vespertine
Average customer rating:

It gets better with every play.

Weird but cool

What We Call a Masterpiece

Bjork for PM of Iceland!

The beauty of winter on record

Vespertine
Björk
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005NG4X
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Hidden Place
Cocoon
It's Not Up To You
Undo
Pagan Poetry
Frosti
Aurora
An Echo A Stain
Sun In My Mouth
Heirloom
Harm Of Will
Unison

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Ever since Björk's vital, effusive 1993 debut, her music has been increasingly intimate, gently private, and concerned with seclusion. It's typical then that Vespertine's first single is called "Hidden Place." The studious solitude is rewarding, though. Vespertine is a lush, gorgeous swell of midpace electronica, symphonic strings, and Björk's uniquely alien, spectral vocals. There are fantastical wonders here. "Cocoon" (another eulogy to withdrawal from the world) is delicate as a breath, Björk sounding too fragile to be flesh as she lauds "a beauty this immense." "Pagan Poetry" and "Aurora," likewise, are adrift in an enchanted reverie. When she chooses, she crafts killer tunes; "It's Not up to You" is as lovely as anything on Post. Yet, frequently, on such tracks as the yearning, glancing "Undo," Björk seems to be simply thinking aloud, reveling in this wildly rich and visceral music. She's reclaimed cutting-edge electronica, so often the province of geeks and technicians, for the poets and the passionate. Vespertine is a landmark, a revelation, and a truly fabulous achievement. --Ian Gittins

Customer Reviews:

It gets better with every play........2007-06-22

I first purchased the DVD-Audio version of this album in 2004 because I had recently acquired the necessary equipment to listen to high-rez surround mixes on my stereo. I was familiar with Bjork, and while I admired her voice, her talent and her knack for making unique music, to consider me a fan of Bjork would be a stretch. That being said, after a few listens I was totally hooked. It's rare to hear an album, by any artist, in any genre, that is so cohesive, so well crafted, so consistently brilliant from start to finish. Vespertine is a real gem of a record that is now among my favorites, and the 5.1 mix is something to experience. I listen to it constantly and never get tired of it.

Weird but cool.......2007-06-17

Just finished listening to this CD through once (my first Bjork CD). Quite like it. Weird, ambient, cool.

What We Call a Masterpiece.......2007-05-19

Like Rolling Stone said, Bjork has finally figured out a way to grow up without growing old. This masterpiece is the greatest album I've ever heard from her. The choirs, the harps, the beautiful melodic beats, and the most important thing, Bjork's voice which can change depending on the mood of the song. It can storm low and sweep up high. It's a voice with so much emotion which is very rare nowadays. Even thought I'm just a kid, I know a great artist when I see one.

Now my review of the songs:

Hidden Place provides us with a beautiful sounding, mysterious type of mood. The voice Bjork brings is totally what you'd expect, AMAZING! Even though it's a really good song, it's not a huge highlight from my opinion.

Bjork coos and whispers for Cocoon. It's like a very delicate lullaby, a beautiful, lyrically genius delicate lullaby. The song is great!

It's Not up to You is something you'd hear from Selmasongs. It's interesting, because it's like a pop song, upbeat in tempo and everything, but again, it's also seems delicate, like Cocoon. The chorous is kinda like a bursting flower. It's said to be Bjork's favourite song from her, which I can't disagree because it's my favourite song too!

Undo is not my favourite from the album, it's a okay song i guess. The choir suits it very well is all I can say.

The music box in the Pagan Poetry is very pretty. But the song lacks something. Bjork sings not keying with the melody, which can cause some people disliking it. But again, it's a great song, lyrically genuis once again, and musical acheivement.

Frosti is a interlude, very cheery, kinda childlish sounding, but still has the adult feel to it. It fallows through a beautiful song Aroura, which makes you feel like its winter. The noises you hear, the way she's singing, it paints a picture in your mind.

An Echo a Stain is um.... hmmm... Well, I can't really say anything good about this song. Hearing people saying it's beautiful and everything just kinda makes me question. It has a very dark tone, sounds kinda creepy. I just don't like it.

Sun in my Mouth is beautiful. Again we here those gourgeous harps, and that music box. It has such a beautiful melody.

Heirloom fallows back to Bjork's old Post-roots. It has a very alternative rock sounding, but it's complied with such delicate noises. I don't know how she does it.

Harm of Will again is um..... hmmmm..... I would just skip it, it's not great.

Unison is such a beautiful love song, this is where Bjork reaches her diva-hood. It's my second favourite song from this album. It's so romantically moving. We hear those lush stringsonce again, and those noises she does, those notes she reaches which makes you get all tingly inside when you hear them, well, IT'S GREAT!

This album is a change from Bjork's first 3 album. It's very personal, very moving than anything else she's done, and a work of beauty. It's way beyond intelligent, it's an album you can listen to standing up and start grooving to, it's a serious album people!!! Like Bjork predicted how music would be in 2007 with her albums Debut and Post, I'm sure we will hear more stuff like this in the future.

Bjork for PM of Iceland!.......2007-03-12

Well, actually if Miss Bjork was Prime Minister of her native land, Iceland, that would take time away from her music. Maybe when she retires. PERISH THE THOUGHT! I first got a good listen to Bjork and "Vespertine" while listening to an interview on NPR back in 2001. Between the intergalactic sounds of Matmos, her elcetronic backup duo, and her voice that touches every end of the universe, I was immediatley taken. I even liked her in her movie "Dancer In The Dark". Would love to meet her. Any if you who do, be careful... she hits. The most special thing about Bjork is that there is no one even close to being like her. Her songs are like fine paintings. Her having such a free soul opens up the floodgates to her unlimited creativity. And the word "creativity" doesn't begin to describe her work. I believe that she is one who will be remembered for 100 years or more. My all time favorite: "Hidden Place" with "Pagan Poetry" a close second. I have never seen her perform live, but hope to some day. The trouble is, I live in the southeastern U.S. and the chances of her coming this way are not great. Wish I could have seen her at Coney Island! She is definitely one of my idols, and I am always anticipating her next project.If I can come up with enough Euros, I'll try to catch her at a show in Europe. Skol, baby!

Carl Rosen
Charlotte, NC

The beauty of winter on record.......2007-01-12

Well, the album could work for other seasons as well, but since it's currently winter and the cover art makes me think of a nice, snowy day, I felt the pointless need to title that. Well, this is one of her most lush works that I've heard of her solo (I've never heard Kukl and know little Sugarcubes). Her "Medùlla" album is also lush, but it's a bit too vocal-based for my tastes although intruguing.

But we enter "Vespertine," which almost feels romantic in its beauty. In fact, I think love is the theme in a track like "Cocoon." The lyrics are some of her greatest, and that's saying a lot coming from an artist who is pretty consistent in that part. Every song on here is great, from the more typical Björk standard "Hidden Place," to the playful interlude "Frosti," and everything in between and after. I also really like "It's Not Up to You" and "Pagan Poetry" lots. The former is really gorgeous towards the end and is an example of her good lyricism. "Pagan" is just plain sonic brilliance, I could totally picture this track in like a surreal scene in a movie. The hook in the keyboards is timeless. The song is one of the more sad on the album, though. It is an amazing album and makes the soundtrack to sleep a warm one.

Totally recommended to anyone into that sort of thing.

Vespertine

Average customer rating:

Vespertine
Bjork
Manufacturer: One Little Indian
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

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Pagan Poetry
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Sun in My Mouth
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Harm of Will
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Vespertine

Average customer rating:

Vespertine: Sound + Vision

Vespertine
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Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2006-07-25

Tracks:

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Undo [CD]
Pagan Poetry [CD]
Frost [CD]
Aurora [CD]
An Echo, A Stain [CD]
Sun In My Mouth [CD]
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Harm Of Will [CD]
Unison [CD]

Tracks:

Hidden Place
Cocoon
It's Not Up To You
Undo
Pagan Poetry
Frost
Aurora
An Echo, A Stain
Sun In My Mouth
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Harm Of Will
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Album Description

Vespertine, released in 2001, was Björk's first Top 20 Billboard® album, and it also scored #1 on the Electronic and Internet album charts, with the stellar tracks "Pagan Poetry" and the sensual"Hidden Place." Those songs plus clips for "Cocoon," "It's In Our Hands," and "Nature Is Ancient" comprise the bonus DVD material. Deluxe package features the original CD in remastered stereo on Side 1 and on Side 2, the entire album in Advanced Resolution 5.1 Surround Sound plus bonus videos!

Customer Reviews:

Vespertine: Sound + Vision.......2006-08-14

Of all of Bjork's musical output so far I rank the collection of songs on VESPERTINE amongst her very best. "Magical" seems like a cliched description to attach on music like this, but for VESPERTINE it is as appropriate a word than any other musical experience I can think of. The percussive elements are as fragile as snowflakes and many of the songs are backed by choirs that augment the beautiful melodies Bjork has written for this record, adding an angelic levity to many key tracks. In comparison with her other works VESPERTINE is quite restrained, but it is far from dull.

In description it seems unlikely that a vocalist of Bjork's emotional range and singing technique could fit comfortably in this environment, and yet she does so quite seamlessly, with little restraint on her part. When she does channel her vocals inward, as on the gentle "Harm of Will", or the charming "Cocoon" (where her giddy declaration of a schoolgirl's crush barely rises above a breathy whisper), the results are as memorable as the extroverted "Pagan Poetry" and "It's Not Up To You".

This latest packaging of VESPERTINE is offered in "Dual Disc" format. One side is the original CD without any bonus material, and the other is a DVD side with the same music in 'surround" mix plus the promotional videos for this record. (I can't comment on the value of these new "surround" mixes, as I don't have the stereo set-up to experience it yet). Because the disc contains playable material on both sides there is only room for a small white circle on the disc's hub for which side is up.

The visuals of the promoted singles on the DVD section are all very imaginative and has a collective theme of the organic, or specifically, the human body. In "Hidden Place" bodily fluids continuously caress the surface of Bjork's face. The abstracted images of body piercing found in "Pagan Poetry" makes for perhaps her most provocative video yet. Similarly strange is "Cocoon" where Bjork dances with red ribbon sprouting from her own body. She plays a pixie-sized tour guide through the deep woods for "It's In Our Hands". In "Nature is Ancient", on which she doesn't appear on-screen, witnesses copulation and gestation among creatures of a microscopic level.

To have the videos packaged together with the music is a special treat, yet there were missed opportunities to truly make this an ultimate fan's treasure. For one, a revamped booklet with additional promo photos would have been ideal, as the booklet is the same as the original release (if I remember correctly, from a friend's copy). Another unfortunate omission was not including as extra tracks the songs that were thinly distributed as b-sides among the various VESPERTINE singles. Still, if you're considering adding VESPERTINE to your collection then this is the version you will want to get.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Favorite tracks: "Hidden Place", "It's Not Up to You", "Undo", "Unison"
Favorite video: "It's In Our Hands"

Vespertine

Average customer rating:

So, Generous Palmstroke is the bonus track?
Emotional trip

Vespertine
Björk
Manufacturer: Universal Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005LLA2
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

Hidden Place
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Undo
Pagan Poetry
Frosti
Aurora
Echo, a Stain
Sun in My Mouth
Heirloom
Harm of Will
Unison
Generous Palmstroke

Album Description

Japanese edition of the eagerly anticipated 2001 album from Iceland's greatest export. Please note that the Japanese pressing will now include one bonus audio track, 'Generous Palmstroke' which is also available as a b-side to the UK single 'Hidden Place'. 13 tracks in all including, 'Hidden Place', 'Cocoon', 'It's Not Up To You', 'Undo', 'Pagan Party', 'Frosti', 'Aurora', 'An Echo A Stain', 'Sun In My Mouth', 'Heirloom', 'Harm Of Will', 'Unison' & the bonus track 'Generous Palmstroke'. Also included for the initial pressing will be a sticker approximately 4.5 x 4.5 inches.

Album Details

Japanese version featuring a bonus track: Generous Palmstroke

Customer Reviews:

So, Generous Palmstroke is the bonus track?.......2002-01-10

Dance tracks, step aside. As already stated I'm sure, Vespertine is lacey, intimate, clear, wintery, sparkly; more hopeful, reverent and caressing on the ears than Homogenic. The best track HIDDEN PLACE is so awesome it's my favorite song from 2000. COCOON is obviously kin of "Venus as a Boy", but her the gentle, sexually explicit lyrics are bit more clear than they were on Debut so it shocks some. IT'S NOT UP TO YOU is the moderately upbeat pop song here (a little surprising in its obvious accessibility). I do hear what another reviewer criticized as "excessive emoting" on Vespertine; that's especially heard early on this track. The most engaging sequence begins with the excellent UNDO, followed by PAGAN POETRY (from the foresty Isobel & Bachelorette strand), icy instrumental FROSTI which is a delightful primer for AURORA. At close listen, her soaring lyrics on the latter actually falter and rely on the back-ups for filling (and it is unusual to find any fault with her singing). The mood is changed with AN ECHO, A STAIN, haunting me of some sadder moments from the movie Dancer in the Dark, but otherwise a great composition. In comparison to her other releases, Vespertine's special shine comes from the intensely poetic lyrics of every song; and these are even more focused on than the music in SUN IN MY MOUTH and HEIRLOOM. HARM OF WILL tells a strange, elusive tale but is easily overlooked. UNISON ends with some easygoing, lovely sounds, with Vespertine fading into the distance rather than going out with a bang. But GENEROUS PALMSTROKE is gorgeous and amazing, but I strongly recommend you get the Hidden Place #1 single to own that along with "Verandi" rather than let it finish this disc for you. It really isn't the right song to end this collection on. Dare I say, Vespertine is Björk's most mellow and feel-good work ... but who ever said that that's a bad thing, or uninteresting for that matter?!?

Emotional trip.......2001-08-31

Bjork's Vespertine has its roots in Homogenic and Selmasongs. It contains 12 diverse yet poigant tracks. The whole approach here can be minimalist or sometimes lusciously backed by a full orchestra.

While Bjork's earliest works such as Debut and Post seemed more headed for clubland, her later releases dealt more and more with her innermost thoughts and unfelt feelings. On Vespertine, she continued the exploration into the soul and comes off with great emotional depth. And best of all, she achieved all this without even the need to raise her voice to octave-scaling levels.

The album's opener Hidden Place is a very poigant and affectionate song, complete with her visionary video no less. Gems like Cocoon, It's Not Up To You, Pagan Poetry are just a handful. The album is not easily accessible at least not when compared to her previous works, but Bjork never intended anything from her to be accessible so immediately. It takes a few listens and you'll be totally hooked! Magical...

Included here is the excellent non-US album track Generous Palmstroke available only on the Hidden Place DVD single.

Vespertine Live
Average customer rating:

So Fragile It Would Melt In The Sunshine

10 STARS TO BE EXACT!

Outstanding

Step into this amazing forest

this is something rare...

Vespertine Live
Björk
Manufacturer: One Little Indian Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00022LIXO
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Frost
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All Is Full Of Love
Cocoon
Aurora
Undo
Unravel
I've Seen It All
An Echo. A Slain
Generous Palmstroke
Hidden Place
Pagan Poetry
Harm Of Will
It's Not Up To You
Unison
It's In Our Hands

Product Description

1. Frosti
2. Overture
3. All Is Full Of Love
4. Cocoon
5. Aurora
6. Undo
7. Unravel
8. I've Seen It All
9. An Echo, A Stain
10. Generous Palmstroke
11. Hidden Place
12. Pagan Poetry
13. Harm Of Will
14. It's Not Up To You
15. Unison
16. It's In Our Hands

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

So Fragile It Would Melt In The Sunshine.......2005-03-21

I received Bjork's "Live Box" as a Christmas present for 2004 and was so excited to finally have my hands on it. I had, after all, wanted to own this box set a few months prior to actually owning it. The four CD's contained within it are live versions of Bjork's first four solo studio albums "Debut," "Post," Homogenic" and "Vespertine." It's taken me quite a while to truly appreciate them all as individual sets, but it's been worth it because it is truly an exceptional piece of music to add to any Bjork fan's collection.

The fourth album in the collection is "Vespertine Live," which is my personal favourite from the entire series. Out of the four live albums we have, this is definitely my favourite. I suppose I'm a little biased because Vespertine is far and away my favourite Bjork album and up there as one of the best albums I've ever heard. However, there's something about hearing this album live which sends chills down my spine. Bjork said she didn't want the listener to hear this live music and just feel it directly from the speakers, but she wanted the sound to slowly creep out and envelop them in its warm embrace. She definitely succeeded in her aim, because if you curl up in a ball and listen to this live performance in full then you'll be transported to another realm. Bjork manages to create such a sensual and intimate atmosphere in these songs that you won't want to go anywhere else. There are a total of 16 songs on this live album which were all taken from the Vespertine World Tour which ran from August to December 2001.

The album opens with "Frosti," the cute little music box instrumental which divided the original album. Here it is used to open the show. Bjork gently caresses the hand made music box before moving into "Overture." Taken from the "Selmasongs" album, this is, I suppose, a second intro. The full orchestral section on this song is very powerful and sets the tone completely, before we move into the third song. This is the majestic "All Is Full Of Love." As the song gradually swirls in, Bjork arrives to sing her classic lines of this beautiful masterpiece. This is and always will be one of my favourite Bjork songs ever, and hearing it live is such an overwhelming experience. A complete assault on the emotions. "Cocoon" follows and is so gentle and fragile it could break in the light of day. This version is amazing and almost better than the original. Bjork's character shines through so much especially as she sings "A train of pearls..." The next song is the stunning "Aurora" which is a beautiful piece that opens with the sound effects of crunching snow under foot. Bjork sounds amazing as ever as her vocals rise to the angelic harp that flutters around the set.

"Undo" is next and is such a beautiful live piece. This could very well be the best performance on the album, because it achieves the effect that Bjork was hoping for - hear those opening notes of this song and you can't help but be drawn in. This has always been one of my favourite Bjork songs and credit has to be given to the amazing all-female choir from Greenland. "Unravel" is the second of only two songs from "Homogenic" here, and it fits in beautifully where no other songs from that album would do. This sparse and mournful ballad is short and sweet singing a story of lost love to the Devil. Bjork fans know it, but hearing it live is a complete revelation. "I've Seen It All" is amazing live and receives a generous reception from the audience. Thom Yorke is not here to provide his vocals on his parts so Bjork fills them in. Maybe he wasn't asked to sing them because a male voice might shatter the fragile tenderness of this intimate setting. Who knows.

"An Echo, A Stain" is an amazing song, but this live version is a bit of a letdown for me. The album version is one of my favourite songs ever, but this live version is a bit too sharp for my liking. The electronica can be a bit overpowering at times for me, and this was, in my opinion, the most relaxed and serene song Bjork has ever recorded. "Generous Palmstroke" is a great highlight of this album due to the harp played beautifully by Zeena Parkins. I've not actually heard it many times before so I'm a little unfamiliar with it, but it fits in perfectly here. "Hidden Place" is amazing live. Not quite as structured as the album version, but amazing nonetheless. The intimate audience setting really love this song judging on the reception it receives. The female choir is great here and Bjork weaves her magic web around the arrangement to create something completely enchanting. "Pagan Poetry" is great live and the mixture between hi-tech, electronic blips and crackles with older, more traditional instruments is very appealing. Bjork doesn't sing quite as powerfully as she does on the original which suits the setting much better.

"Harm Of Will" always had one of the best intros to any Bjork song I'd ever heard. The violins are so sweet and fragile that you feel they would bend and break if there was any tension in the room. This beautiful song doesn't feature the 'cut and paste' style of vocals which Bjork achieved on the album version, but works much better for it. "It's Not Up To You" is a song I was obsessed with at one point. When listening to the album, I would keep this on repeat for many times. I love how the song opens up really closed and shut off, before just unfolding and creating this large space, by use of the choir of course. This isn't quite replicated live, but it's just as enjoyable a listen. "Unison" is superb live and proved me wrong when I thought Bjork wouldn't be able to pull this off live. The song has such a gradual build up and I wasn't sure she could achieve it, but she does. The album closes with "It's In Our Hands," which was a brand new song at the time. This song is a bit more alert and upbeat than anything else on the album. Bjork said she enjoyed performing this, because it was almost like she could rock out at the end after performing all these slow - albeit beautiful - songs. This has grown to be one of my favourites on the album. There's a sound like an aeroplane that powers up as the chorus approaches, it's quite incredible.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

I was so impressed with this live album that I went out straight away yesterday and bought the "Royal Opera House" DVD which is Bjork's amazing performance in London opera house of the songs on this CD. I have yet to watch it in its entirety, but I have been very impressed with what I've seen so far. The aim for Bjork's studio albums is to have everything perfectly synchronised and in place to make the most of her stunning music. When everything's in place, it will take your breath away by the second. However, singing the songs live, Bjork breaks them down and allows the listener access to all the little sounds that nestled in the corners of the original songs, but couldn't be accessed because of the album's tight structure. It's like once you heard those little sounds, they were gone because something else had replaced them, such was the complexity of the album. There's a definite acoustic element in these live recordings, which should be respected and commended. If you buy this live album then I suggest you buy the DVD of the concert too, as a sort of companion. Either way, if you love Vespertine then you must own this.

10 STARS TO BE EXACT!.......2005-01-07

I bought this CD not knowing how Bjork sounds live, or aware of how the live experience can truly enhance the life of a song. And boy, i sure don't regret buying this and finally hearing how Bjork sounds live! I swear, i have been playing this CD non-stop. Bjork in concert is truly an organic experience where her songs are more earthly, sweet, introvert, chilling, uplifting, and so much more. Vespertine is one of my most fav. albums of hers next to Homogenic. Some people might think how she could possibly make Vespertine even better than the studio album. And as Bjork always does, she surprises and amazes us by showing that she definitely has no limits, and that yes, she can bring more soul to her music. I almost cried on many of the songs that touched me from the start, such as All Is Full of Love, I've Seen It All, Harm of Will, and Unison. Bjork is at her best in this live version album. I am also going to get Bjork's vespertine live version on DVD as well. I cant wait! If you are a fan of Bjork, or inquisitive about how Bjork sounds live, than try out Vespertine Live! You won't regret it!

Outstanding.......2004-09-25

For some reason some reviewers I've read on amazon seem to have a problem with Vespertine. I have been following Bjork's career since I was a kid listening to the Sugarcubes and I generally think her solo albums have progressed for the better. Homogenic was an undeniable classic and, for me, Vesperine was the next logical step. It's an incredible record. Perhaps less accesible than her previous efforts, but artistically just incredible. Matmos did a beautiful job complimenting her work and they bring a more minimal IDM feel to the beats than Mark Bell or Graham Massey, etc. Should there be any doubt that Vespertine is a triumph, this live CD should put all of it to rest. I got this CD as a part of the live box and I consider it the crowning jewel of that set. This album actually comes across better live in my opinion. The lengths she went to in order to reproduce this record are very respectable. A full orchestra, an inuit choir, and matmos creating beats by among other things mic-ing shuffling cards or stepping on crushed salt. The live version of Vespertine is really exquisite. Even "Hidden Place" which is my least favorite song on Vespertine comes across much better live. And the CD reaches its peak from there. The last few tracks are mind-blowing. The live version of "Harm of Will" brings me to tears and is one of the best examples of Bjork's outstanding vocal range I've ever heard. Among live versions of songs from Vespertine are incredible renditions of "Unravel" and "All is Full of Love." This is a must for any Bjork fan. Anyone skeptical about Vespertine should really hear this CD, it may change your mind.

Step into this amazing forest.......2004-07-28

Okey, I've got every CD Bjork has recorded in the last 20 years. I think she's just totally amazing. So I got this CD too, without really knowing what it would sound like, because you know every time Bjork releases a new CD it's like opening the book of a totally new story. Sure you recognize her voice, but her special sound is very variating. So, what would it be this time? Electronic industrial like on Homogenic, or Houseindiepop like on Debut? Maybe the jazzy triphop-sound that dominated Post? No idea.
So I got the CD, right, and the first noices on the first track just caught me. The whole song just like the sound of a toyharp. Lovely. And than the miracle followed. Her voice, the sounds, the instruments, everything just made sense (even the wacky breathing on track 9 "An Echo A Stain"). When I try to think of a song I don't like on this record, I realize it's impossible. It's like entering a forest of fairy tales or swim in the sky. LOVELY! I could write a book about this CD, but I'm sure the very thought of it makes you tired. So I'm gonna end this review right here with the words: this is amazing. Totally amazing. Get this music as quickly as you can! =)

this is something rare..........2004-06-19

Okay, the regular reviews tell us that what's performed live is something of a copy of the studio-sound the CD gives the listener. But oh, you can make the sound of a concert's live performance so much more, you can make it introduce the crowd to a whole new way of listening to the music. Songs are performed in a unfamiliar way which means it get's a whole new meaning. Björk succeeds in doing this, but still she keeps the magical spell put in it, that you may recognize from the original CDs. Many of her most well-known songs are here: from "Hidden Place" to the beautiful song "I've seen it all" from the soundtrack to Dancer In The Dark (but Björk gets to play both parts of the singing). The very rare song "Generous Palmstroke", which at first time sounds a bit like "Like Someone In Love" from the CD Debut (1995,) immediately became one of my greatest favourites. The whole thing arranged on stage with all the strings and choirs somehow, to me, makes the music more arousally alive. You travel into this mystic world of Björk - and you do it live! I'd like to call it music that's wide awake. Like, when you listen to her CDs you enter a dreamworld, but when hearing the concerts and the live performances you wake up and the music flows into you and you're alive in all the melodies of life. How wonderful!
Just can't give it less than FIVE well deserved stars. Magical!

All My Bad Thoughts

Average customer rating:

All My Bad Thoughts
The Montgolfier Brothers
Manufacturer: Vespertine & Son
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000F6ZG6M
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

The First Rumours of Spring
Don't Get Upset If I...
All My Bad Thoughts
Sins and Omissions
Stopping For Breath
Koffee Pot
Brecht's Lost Waltz
Quite an Adventure
Journey's End
It's Over, It's Finished, It's Ended, It's Done

Product Description

Three years in the making, All My Bad Thoughts sees The Montgolfier Brothers reach their destination with a resigned sigh and a wink. The ingredients of Mark Tranmer and Roger Quigley's first two long-players, 1999's Seventeen Stars (Vespertine) and 2002's The World Is Flat (Poptones), are still there: a rich melodiousness recalling Michel Legrand, Vini Reilly and Michael Nyman, combined with a lyrical subtlety deriving humour from despair. But the themes and the mood have shifted. Quigley's profound observations are still made through the bottom of a wine bottle, but his unblinking dissections of the remnants of failed relationships make way for a more serene exploration of the changing face of his home town and his place within it, best seen on Journey's End, the title track of the EP that preceded the album's release. There's time for them to introduce a friend, too. Dave Campion makes his recording debut on Quite An Adventure at an age when most have long since hung up their boots, describing a forgotten Manchester of trolley buses, department stores and family days out. The Montgolfier Brothers still delve deep into the human condition, but the chinks of light are getting brighter all the time.

Vespertine

Average customer rating:

Vespertine
Bjork
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0002ZEUGS
Release Date: 2004-11-01

Tracks:

Hidden Place
Cocoon
It's Not Up to You
Undo
Pagan Poetry
Frosti
Aurora
Echo, a Stain
Sun in My Mouth
Heirloom
Harm of Will
Unison

Album Details

Japanese Limited Budghet Re-issue featuring a Bonus Track: 'generous Palmstroke'.

Roots: CD 2 EP from Bjork's Family Tree Collection [3 inch CD] [5-Tracks]

Average customer rating:

Roots: CD 2 EP from Bjork's Family Tree Collection [3 inch CD] [5-Tracks]
Bjork
Manufacturer: Elektra Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000SWTHGS

Product Description

This is CD 2, a 3 inch CD EP from Bjork's Family Tree Box Set featuring 5 tracks. (1) Immature (2) Cover Me (3) Generous Palmstroke (4) Joga (Strings & Vocals Mix) (5) Mother Heroic. Features alternate versions and B-Sides from Vespertine.

Vespertine

Average customer rating:

Vespertine

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000J2354M
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Album Description

Includes Japan only bonus track ''Generous Permstroke''. Polydor. 2006.

Journey's End

Average customer rating:

Journey's End
The Montgolfier Brothers
Manufacturer: Vespertine & Son
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000F6ZG6C
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

Journey's End
Bridestones Revisited
Koffee Pot Blues
Koffee Pot Brass
Journey's End (video track)
Operation Laff (video track)

Product Description

Three years in the making, All My Bad Thoughts sees The Montgolfier Brothers reach their destination with a resigned sigh and a wink. The ingredients of Mark Tranmer and Roger Quigley's first two long-players, 1999's Seventeen Stars (Vespertine) and 2002's The World Is Flat (Poptones), are still there: a rich melodiousness recalling Michel Legrand, Vini Reilly and Michael Nyman, combined with a lyrical subtlety deriving humour from despair. But the themes and the mood have shifted. Quigley's profound observations are still made through the bottom of a wine bottle, but his unblinking dissections of the remnants of failed relationships make way for a more serene exploration of the changing face of his home town and his place within it, best seen on Journey's End, the title track of the EP that preceded the album's release. There's time for them to introduce a friend, too. Dave Campion makes his recording debut on Quite An Adventure at an age when most have long since hung up their boots, describing a forgotten Manchester of trolley buses, department stores and family days out. The Montgolfier Brothers still delve deep into the human condition, but the chinks of light are getting brighter all the time.

Music:

Music

The Plural of the Choir

Waltz & Dance: 50 Classical Performances

Two Pieces for String Orch / Adagio for Strings [Import]

Back Home Again [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Striving for the Lazy Perfection + Singles [Original recording remastered]

Windham Hill Sampler '96

Tuesday's Child

Vivaldi: Gloria in D; Psalm 127 in Gm

Wind That Shakes the Barley [Import]

Upon a Jazz Top: Christmas Holiday Series [Import]

Tributo a Celia Cruz: Bachata Con Azucar

Funkiest Band You Never Heard