Review: Björk - Atopos

When it comes to the Nordic world's most iconic musical superstars, Björk's name comes in just a few spots below legends such as ABBA and A-HA, and not just alphabetically. From her debut as a soloist in the early '90s, Björk has garnered a reputation for strange songs, holding very little in common other than a sense of emergency and chaos along with eclectic instrumental choices.

With an album coming later this month, Björk has released the lead single, Atopos, a Greek word referring to something strange and out of place. This is an apt title for the song, tackling themes of the need for universal connection, and how differentiation between groups matters not. The lyrics are extremely straightforward and to the point. Björk states that "If we don't go outwards towards love, we'll implode towards destruction." This is not too different from Björk's normal lyrical style, but it is surprisingly generic in its statement. Björk has never been too direct in her song, but it is pretty clear what she means (hello, Declare Independence).

On the other hand, Atopos is musical chaos. There is a thin line between being adventurous and absolutely abstract; one that Björk usually perfectly rides along. However, Atopos firmly falls into the latter. There are several elements throughout the entire song; Björk's towering and raspy performance, the hoodlum of the clarinets, and the clashing percussion. Unfortunately, these elements push and pull with each other. This could sound fantastic, but they absolutely attack each other, leading to musical pandemonium.

Don't get me wrong, Atopos is extremely interesting, it has so many elements that I want to love. Unfortunately, they come together like salt and sugar. The experimentation is wonderful, but it makes a listening experience that is more interesting than enjoyable. Nonetheless, Björk's potential remains on display, and I hope her album Fossora provides us another Hyperballad moment.

Rating: 7.75/10

Purchase Björk's Atopos and album Fossora right here!

Image Source: Tone Deaf