Björk

Homogenic proved Björk was an uncompromising and hugely talented artist stretching out.

A river of electronic drums hit you as Hunter talks of bringing home the goods over a juicy synth bassline. The swaying and lovely Jóga has melodic Eumir Deodato string arrangements punctuated by staccato keyboards and rhythm treatments.

Unravel is deceptively pretty and a massive orchestra pumps up Bachelorette – cellos, horns and harps vie for your attention alongside percussive sounds – essentially a dance track with an LSO backdrop. Side 1 ends with All Neon Like where Björk weaves another pretty melody into a marvellous web while those lonesome words shimmer like a distant ache.

Things get experimental with the discordant 5 Years – probably the most intense track on the album. The lyrics in the wonderful Immature read like a diary entry – a warning to a gullible heart looking for love. There’s a techno feel to the drum patterns that anchor the superb Alarm Call – her vocal layers simply brilliant – arriving with Kate Bush yelps just when the song needs them. A manic vocal starts Pluto – a broken beats soundscape – and it finishes on All Is Full Of Love – a swirling set of keyboard layers that builds and builds.

Homogenic will not be to all tastes – but succumb to its emotional and experimental ways and you’ll be digging its cinemascope scale forever more.