Bjork: Vespertine - Surrounded [Dual Disc]

Björk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Dual Disc
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000G75AOS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,953 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Hidden Place [CD]

2. Cocoon [CD]

3. It's Not Up To You [CD]

4. Undo [CD]

5. Pagan Poetry [CD]

6. Frost [CD]

7. Aurora [CD]

8. An Echo, A Stain [CD]

9. Sun In My Mouth [CD]

10. Heirloom [CD]

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Hidden Place

2. Cocoon

3. It's Not Up To You

4. Undo

5. Pagan Poetry

6. Frost

7. Aurora

8. An Echo, A Stain

9. Sun In My Mouth

10. Heirloom

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vespertine: Sound + Vision, August 13, 2006

By 

Catfood03 (in front of my computer typing reviews) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bjork: Vespertine - Surrounded (Audio CD)

Of all of Bjork's musical output so far I rank the collection of songs on VESPERTINE are 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"