The release of Björks landmark album Homogenic is serving another reminder of just how old I am with the album celebrating 23 years since its release. Way back in 1997 being a moody 14 year old, my musical taste was quite limited to whatever my older brother was into and a few choice records handed down to us by my dad. Radioheads 'The Bends' was probably about as left field as my taste got but a few new sounds had slowly started to find their way onto my walkman with DJ Shadows 'Entroducing' album opening a few new doors. As for Bjork, I guess up to this point I only really knew her as the lassie who sang the shouty 'It's Oh So Quiet' a song which I hated at the time.
I think it was about a year later, 1998 when I had my epiphany moment with Björk and her music. I was off school due to the recent passing of my grandad Issac and being my first experience of losing someone I wasn't really sure what I was feeling. I knew my mum was really upset but she was also so strong and looking after everyone else's needs first. After suffering with bowel cancer and numerous complications, we'd seen my grandad suffer quite a lot and his passing although deeply sad also brought some relief from the pain we knew he was in. How to untangle all of these conflicting emotions was beyond me at 15 and I'd probably still struggle now. Alone at home I flicked on the tv to see Jools Holland was on. The camera panned to the next performer and revealed Björk with a small string quartet who instantly began performing the incredible 'Joga'. The stripped back arrangement, the strings and the sheer power of Björks voice reduced me to tears. It was the first time I'd cried during that time. Lyrically the song touched a nerve 'state of emergency, how beautiful to be'. I found a moment of release and instantly fell in love with Björks music.
I've found emotional memories can often be tied to certain albums and songs, sometimes in a good way but this can also be a trigger for painful memories. But to discover Björk previous albums during that time along with her later output, its possible to trace an incredible evolution in her work, both sonically and artistically. Even listening back now I can start to trace my own emotional evolution from trying to make sense of life in my teens to the traumatic events of my 20's and into finding a balance between inner peace and being aware of the bullshit and drama in my 30's. I think at almost every important milestone of understanding myself and whats important to me, a Björk song has helped to guide me. Even going back and listening to older songs, really taking in their lyrics and meaning has left me astonished by their depth. Songs like Come To Me, Unravel and Unison speak of almost shared memories and experiences, universal pains but also reminders that we're not alone in how we feel at certain times. Björk is an artist who with each album gives us a gift that often keeps on giving, even decades later and stabs at the core of what it means to be human in these times.
23 years on since its release, Homogenic still sounds as fresh and meaningful as it did in 1997. It's mix of classical strings, electronic beats and emotional highs and lows saw Björk perform the same magic as Radiohead with Ok Computer, taking the important elements of previous albums, lived experiences and the lessons learned to produce era and career defining albums that dealt with more than bored rock n roll tropes and helped guide me into an appreciation for less mainstream sounds. Check out the album and singles artwork, a revealing look at the many characters and faces of Björk and videos from Homogenic below. The 'Emotional Landscapes' of Joga and Homogenic continue to resonate, it might even hold the key to understanding things you're struggling to deal with now but it might also give you pangs for the techno clubs and all night parties of yesteryear. Whatever it ilicits, its sure to be a wonderfully complex journey!
