Once upon a time, making a music video was seen as a springboard into directing feature films. Now, making a music video is increasingly recognised as an art form in its own right. There’s an interesting tale at Scribe Media about the making of Bjork’s video for Wanderlust. Intriguing to see the involvement of Matthew Barney, whose Cremaster Cycle was something of an art house cult.
Making of Bjork’s 3-D “Wanderlust” from Scribe Media on Vimeo.
Matthew Barney is Björk’s partner…
Interesting. Will watch soon!
Yeah I think they’ve even got a kid together and her other son is in his 20’s now. I’ve been a huge fan of Bjork’s for more than a decade and always buy her albums as soon as they come out. Thought she was good in Dancer In The Dark and Barney’s Drawing Restraint 9 too. All up though her video clips are more often than not incredible. I suggest checking out Joga and Pagan Poetry.
Mike Patton appeared on her Medulla album which was the dream collaboration for myself with those being my two favourite musicians/artists of all-time.
I’m a big fan of anything that Chris Cunningham does. Squarepusher’s “Come on My Selector”, Aphex Twin’s “Come to Daddy” and “Windowlicker”, and Bjork’s “All is Full of Love” are all fantastic clips that complement their respective songs. Some of them do take a little while to get started (such as Windowlicker, which is hilarious) but I think there’s an attempt to tell a story in the film clip of which the song is a part.
All the music video makers still see it as a stepping stone to making a feature. THat and the pay is the reason they do it.
As a clip-maker I think Michele Gondry is the master only rivalled by Cunningham. A pity he’s apparently lost to feature films. (’Human Behaviour’ is one Bjork song that Gondry directed - it’s on his collection DVD).
I saw Bjork live at the Hordern when she toured here for ‘Homogenic’ (still her best album, and one of _the_ best albums of the 90s) … she had the ‘Pole’ guys as her synthesists, plus the string quartet. Her voice was absolutely magnificent … that huge range you hear on the records, on demand, perfectly.
I’m with you on Homogenic, Tyro Rex. It’s right up there in my top albums of all time, although I adore both Vespertine and Debut. There’s something about the combo of full strings and beats, mixing with her voice, that was just spot on with that album.
Totally bummed that I was in Adelaide when she was in Sydney on that tour, and then in Sydney when she was in Adelaide! So I’ve still never seen her live.
Thanks for the post, Kim - it livened up a very dull Friday for me!
Another Bjork fan, particularly of Homogenic (although that track near the end of atonal screaming I have skipped over ever since I bought it!).
Bjork is an amazing artist, and her music is consistently outstanding. However I think Homogenic went one step further, and became for want of a better description, an experience. I put on that album and I’m plunged into another world, so strong is the sensibility she portrays. And like the really great artists, her lyrics are as good as her music which is as good as her lyrics - they pair together seamlessly, and never more so on Homogenic.
Likewise thanks for livening up Friday - even if my stupid work won’t let me watch vids, at least I’ve now got Bjork humming along in my head!
Yeah I’ve always considered Homogenic her best album too. For about two years after it came out I listened to that every night when I was going to sleep. Magical. I rate Vespertine highly too.
Also have to agree with Sam, Chris Cunnigham is great and IMO the best in the business. The Windowlicker and Come To Daddy clips are awesome. I don’t know who did it but I recommend checking out Mr. Oizo’s ‘Flat Beat” too.
Bjork and the art of being utterly cut snake crazy.
Her synthesis of brass ensemble, cutting edge electronics, and that voice at BDO this year in Melbs was so mind-blowing it actually left me wasted, a dumb grin on the face, heart as warm as toast, and a distinct disinterest in seeing or hearing anything else for days.
As I cycled home past Melbourne Zoo around 9pm that night, I heard the queerest cacophony of noise as clearly a lot of animals were having trouble bedding down. After seeing & hearing Bjork though, it all sounded quite sensible.
Couldn’t heart her more than I did that night.