Description
Vespertine is the fourth studio album by Icelandic recording artist Björk. Production on the album began during the filming of Dancer in the Dark, which was characterized by conflict between the singer and director Lars von Trier. Vespertine's sound reflected Björk's newly found interest in the music of artists such as Opiate and Console, who were also enlisted as producers. Björk wanted to make an album with an intimate, domestic sound, deviating from the sonority of her previous studio album Homogenic (1997). With the rising popularity of Napster and music downloads, she decided to use instruments whose sound would not be compromised when downloaded and played on a computer, including the harp, the celesta, clavichord, strings, and custom music boxes. Assisted by the duo Matmos, Björk created 'microbeats' from various household sounds, such as that of shuffling cards and ice being cracked. Lyrical sources include a poem by E. E. Cummings, Sarah Kane's play Crave, and dialogues written by Harmony Korine. Björk, a self-titled coffee table book containing photographs of the singer throughout her career, was released simultaneously with the album. Vespertine peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart, and was widely acclaimed by critics, with praise centred on its erotic, intimate mood and sonic experimentation. It appeared on several publications' lists of the best albums of 2001 and of the decade, and has often been considered Björk's best album to date. The album was certified gold in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom.
