8th December, 1997

"Bachelorette" by Björk The second single off the astounding "Homogenic" LP, "Bachelorette" sees Björk in panaromic widescreen mode. It starts with sci-fi cinematic strings which create an undulating landscape over which stacatto echoing beats scamper like frightened cyborg rabbits. Then a keyboard stabs out a bassline which rises mountain-like on the horizon - a horizon over which the mighty and mysterious Björk appears, like some primeval goddess. With lyrics that strongly evoke folklore and legend ("leave me now - return tonight, the tide will show you the way") and a production that borders on the epic, "Bachelorette" is an unsettling fairytale of a single, one that burns itself on your brain then vanishes, leaving only echoes. First b-side is "My Snare", a song which eschews the strings and concentrates on the beats alone as Björk sings one of her more uptempo numbers, which, with its "Nature is ancient", reinforces her image as cyber beat mother goddess. Divine. Next is "Scary", a psycho harpsichord waltz through which Björk runs freely, her almost sing-song voice giving the track a childlike quality. But with its "no courage for love, too scared to be happy" lyric, it is a close cousin to the bleak and autobiographical "5 Years" from "Homogenic". Last track on the first CD is the "Howie B Spread Mix" of "Bachelorette", which removes the beats, leaving only the majestic string backing that gives the track a classical feel. The second CD, like the first, has some truly startling artwork, depicting Björk as an alien queen, surrounded by Gigeresque spikes, tubes and things best left undescribed. This is superbly evocative of the music inside, as - especially on the second remix CD - various parts of the track are mutated and operated upon, each emphasising a different part and adding a different shade to the overall mood. These range from the black hole of the "Optimism" mix, through the electro disco of "Zip" and the ambient worlds of "Blue" (all by current collaborator Mark Bell), to the trippy "RZA Remix" and the terrifying sharp shards of sound in "The Ice Princess And The Killer Whale" mix. Better than most remix offerings. I've said it before, and I make no apologies for saying it again, but I believe Björk to be the most exciting, original and contrary artist working in this field of music today. Never afraid to take a risk ("Homogenic" will have made the "Debut" and "Post" loving yuppies run for the hills) and never compromising, a Björk record is the most unpredictable of things. With "Bachelorette", she has treated us to a glimpse of the beautiful, mesmeric and frightening world that only she seems able to see. For that we can only be thankful. Now - any chance of making it Christmas number one?? Rating: 10/10