Customer Reviews

Hidden Place (Pt.2) / Mother Heroic / Foot Soldier

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I agree with the other reviews about Hidden Place Pt.2. The acapella "Hidden Place" is as great to listen to as the Vespertine version, and really lets you hear the vocals of Bjork & choir. The other 2 songs are as good as anything on Vespertine. If you are a Vespertine fan, you should try to hear this. Much better than Pt.1.

The vocal version of "Hidden Place" is simply breathtaking; without the squishy noises of pudding through straws or card-shuffle beats provided by Matmos on the Edit version (which are by no means bad, either), the lyrics really come through. A real highlight is the whole verse in the middle of the song that was cut out completely from the Edit, in which Bjork sings my favorite lines: "There lies my passion hidden/ there lies my love/ I'll hide it under a blanket/ lull it to sleep." There are also two B-Sides. "Mother Heroic" features a celesta combined with resonant vocals. The final song, "Foot Soldier" is reminescent of two of Bjork's Homogenic-era songs, "Hunter" and "My Snare," with a Vespertine flavor. The lyrics are like "Hunter"'s and the groovy, mellow beat is like "My Snare"'s. This song that starts out mellow , however, quickly crescendos into an all-out war cry: "you go first/ conquer the darkness!" An exellent companion to "Hidden Place pt. One."

My first introduction to her new round of material, this CD is great. The acappella version of HIDDEN PLACE is just as essential as the original. It is much easier to focus on the beauty of her lyrics and nuances of her voice in this gorgeous song about nurturing a secret love nestled inside, never to be expressed. Both of the nonalbum tracks - the nurturing MOTHER HEROIC and trodding FOOT SOLDIER - are lovely and unique (especially the former). Recommended to intense Björk collectors and some of her newer fans (jumping into her later material).

2001's Vespertine (originally to be titled Domestika) was a huge critical success that could've been found on the top of almost any magazine's list of top albums for the year. The album, Björk's fourth solo effort, remains the favorite among the majority of her fans to this day. (I, for one, choose Homogenic. But that's just me). The hype was for good reason, too. The introverted work was innovative, intimate, and simply intoxicating with its complex--but somehow, compact--arrangements. The project offered a side of the quirky singer that none had seen before: a soft and sensual one. "Hidden Place" was chosen as the first single of the set, and rightfully so. The original, laced with shuffling cards, masterfully written lyrics, whispery vocals, and an Inuit choir showed what the album was all about. And the captivating--albeit, odd-- video added to the greatness.

The first track of this single, the second one of the set, is the acapella of "Hidden Place." (That's only vocals sans the background production and music, just in case you didn't know.) Most acapella tracks are quite boring and useless to me, but this specific one proves to be different, since the whole concept of its album was to be "inside" and quiet. The choir can be heard even better here, which I enjoyed. (I didn't even realize there were men singing in the background until I heard this). Overall, it proves to be an haunting, intersting, and stripped down listen to the song.

"Mother Heroic," the following track, is a B-side, which the Vespertine era had plenty of. (Unfortunately, the later Medulla and Volta eras have proved to not be as fruitful). This track would've fit perfectly as an interlude on the disc. With celeste from Guy Sigsworth, this track is very mellow and sweet. Björk's vocals are soft, and rather high, kinda like what she does on "Coccoon." The lyrics, which are taken from an E.E. Cummings poem, are simply beautiful and match the song well. The song is nice, but it's a bit short--about two and a half minutes--and it's a little one-dimensional compared to some of the more climactic pieces from Vespertine. As I said, it's sort of in between an actual song and an interlude, somewhat like "You've Been Flirting Again" from Post.

The third and final track, "Foot Soldier," is definitely my favorite of the bunch. I can see why it didn't make it to the album because it has a bit too much bounce and groove to belong in such a down-paced set. The beat and pace of the song almost remind me of one of her past B-sides, "I Go Humble." Frequent collaborator, Mark Bell, co-wrote the track and Björk herself surprisingly plays the harp here. (I'm curious as to why it's not Zeena playing. Maybe it was recorded before they met...) Her vocals are strong and booming, calling "foot soldier/ march ahead!" This was a good way to end the single.

This single also comes with a double sided, four-panel foldout poster. One side is a larger version of the cover of the CD1, and the other side is a wonderful cartoonish drawing by Inez, Vioodh, and M/M Paris, with the credits in the corner. This EP, although a bit pricy in my opinion, was worth the purchase for me. It has a great acapella, two good--if not, great--non-album tracks, and it had nice artwork. (I love design, graphics, and stuff like that. I'm a huge fan of M/M Paris' work.) If you're a big fan of Björk or the Vespertine album, then you will definitely enjoy this set.

Now, I like the album Verspertine, but overall each song is just another one of 'those', you know? Each track has a slow, quiet, and icy feel, and it falls into a place of monotony, something that doesn't seem cohesive with an artist like Bjork.

I like the Vespertine singles because most of the B-sides break away from the signature sound of the album, and are arguably better than a lot of the material that was included. I guess Bjork really wanted to keep a cold and relatively distant album, because she scrapped some really great stuff in the process.

On this single, both b-sides are under 3 minutes, so while most of V goes from 4-6, these tracks feel very short, but a little more 'short and sweet' is something V could've used. Mother Heroic definitely could've fit the feel, quiet and icy, and a little uninteresting. I mean I get what she tried to do with it, but it wasn't delivered very well. Foot Soldiers is great; it takes a noticeable trip hop feel with the percussion, and the electronics are much warmer, like something out of 'Post'.

Also, the A Capella mix of Hidden Place is an interesting treat; it has some male vocals added, which upon listening can feel negatively or positively towards the rest of the song. I guess it depends on what you're interested in listening to.

Oh, and the booklet folds out into a poster of the photo from the first Hidden Place single.

This is a perfect single. The acapella version of Hidden Place is wonderful. i don't want to say its better than the original, but it definitely is as good as it. the choir is truly amazing, and of course björk is amazing as well. it makes Hidden Place more special to listen to. Mother Heroic is probably the most angelic song by björk i would say. The lyrics are amazing. The celeste is soft and lush, with björk's voice on top, high and airy with tons of emotion and a heavenly melody. I wish it was on vespertine so that more people could hear it. Foot Soldier is a trippy song co-written by mark bell (who also co-wrote pluto). the best part about it is that björk is playing harp!!! but the song itself is great. it seems to get more agressive as it goes along, just angrier as it goes. Then ends mysteriously. it slightly reminds me of Heirloom. so all in all, this is a great buy, and definitely worth your money. maybe it should cost more. definitely one of my favorite björk singles.

Björk made me love singles.Her b-sides and covers
attracts me much in singles.Like all Björk singles ,it is an art work.
maybe ,"Hidden Hlace" is one of the the best song of björk and
I've listened in my whole life..."Foot Soldier" is a nice song
that has the air of homogenic.also "Mother Heroic" is an adorable song too
and, it has the air of "sun in my mouth" from
"Vespertine".