BJORK - VULNICURA STRINGS
WHEN it was released to widespread acclaim earlier this year, Bjork’s Vulnicura proved that even as she approaches 50, the Icelandic singer is still one of the most important and experimental musicians the average person has actually heard of.
As an accompaniment to that masterpiece, Vulnicura Strings strips the songs to their bare bones, leaving only melancholic strings and her haunting voice, in a move that seems avant-garde in approach but, given the poignant nature of the songs, makes complete sense.
This is the Bjork equivalent of an acoustic album and, as such, allows the listener to focus more on the words, easily her most moving and personal to date, while songs like Stonemilker and Lionsong resonate more in this stripped down, back-to-basics form.
The pulsing beats of the original Vulnicura still gives it the edge, but you can’t deny the power and passion that’s gone into this amazing release. Bjork’s not only still relevant, she’s essential listening. 8/10 STEVEN COOKSON
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