At the weekend I was out in the garden - the sun was shining and it was incredibly hot. I needed a working song. As I scrolled through iTunes figuring out what to blast through my speakers, an obvious choice would have been Björk's last album. Loud, stomping, energetic. But (deep sigh) it's such a discordant, perhaps even challenging work. I know it would have been the bolder choice, but sometimes bold choices are not a good fit with sunny days. So of course I didn't bother with the banging and crashing and played the inevitable Pet Shop Boys for some hi-NRG (providing high energy) with the spadework.
As I was digging, I couldn't help but think of another contrast between the two - their shows at the Hammersmith Apollo. The PSB rejoiced in performing their recent songs of course, but struck a careful balance between the fact that they were still producing new music and have a staggering back catalogue. So they gave the people what they wanted - the hits. Björk, (who I saw a couple of weeks ago) most decisively, did not. The (very alt) audience would probably have given her great admiration as a fabulous artist (which she is) and agreed she has every right to create an avant garde, brilliant performance (which she did), but the truth is, they wanted to hear the hits just as much as I did. The reaction when she threw in Hyperballad or Jóga told its own story.
My photos of the show are not noted for their greatness. The reason for this was not lack of proximity or good skillz but because Björk had the camera Nazis at the front. The bulldoggish, ghastly woman standing in front of us barked and shone a torch at anyone using a digital. Lighten up, chick! There were a whole bunch of people with cameras far more effective and highly powered than mine shooting YouTube videos by the dozen... so quite what the point was I have absolutely no idea. It ended up fostering resentment among the people down the front who (presumably) were her biggest fans - not only could they not shoot pictures, the barking woman kept yelling 'no photos!' over the music.
Here are my notes the day after:
- she came on in multi-coloured rabbit-fur pom-pom head dress that covered everything except the front of her face. She was also wearing a metalicised 3-D chiffon extravaganza. Leggings then bare feet. It was superb, but her only outfit - I think I wanted a change of garb. Or two.
- she was accompanied by a 24-piece Icelandic brass section wearing Bjork-ified heavily patterned gospel choir type-gowns
- highlights were Earth intruders, Jóga and Hyperballad. Army of Me also amazing and very heavily vocoder-ised. Crowd went *bonkers* at these three numbers. I loved it when she sang 'car parts, bottles and cuttttttlereeeeeee' and counted 'one! two! three!' on her hands
- was standing right at the front (of course!) next to a speaker. Not my greatest idea. Ears ringing hours later
- very good lasers which bounced off strategically placed mirrors and criss-crossed. Gold stars for that. I oohed and aahed
- voice amazing. A force of nature.
- crowd was arthouse-film-lovers, Guardian readers, people who were students 10 years ago (many are still doing PhDs I am thinking), people who wear 'statement' reading glasses, only have black in their wardrobe, etc etc
One final note: Björk may not realise this but the shiny tickertape (see above) was the same stuff used at the end of the MIKA show I saw in February. Which got me thinking that the two of them should team up - MIKA to add some desperately needed bubblegum to the discordancy and Björk to give MIKA some edge and art cred. Just a thought.
Björk Hyperballad (live at Hammersmith - take that camera Nazis!)
Naturally, terrible quality - go to 1.30 to begin
Worra shame. Totally her perogative NOT to play the hits. But still. I suppose it all means something in Bjork's head.
Just wait 'til the Greatest Hits album... or has there been obne already?
Posted by: Phil | May 13, 2008 at 07:53 PM
Le sigh. Have you seen her Royal Opera House DVD? You can tell the crowd were just enraptured. Her version of Human Behaviour on that is BEYOND.
Phil, yes there was a hits CD with glorious It's In Our Hands as the bonus track.
Posted by: Xolondon | May 14, 2008 at 02:58 AM