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Debut Live

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Björk

 
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Debut Live

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Avg: 4.0 (63 ratings)

  • We Say...

    Few solo bows are as accomplished as Björk's Debut, which remains as bold a statement as when it first came out in 1993. But as accomplished as that record was, Björk, ever the adventurer, revisited and revised it just a year later on the "MTV Unplugged" session documented here.

    While the studio version remains Björk's most accessible release, it's clear that the Icelandic musician was already keen on spanning continents and musical genres — her "Unplugged" band adds the likes of bedroom electronicist Leila Arab and noted classical/new music percussionist Evelyn Glennie to musicians who played on Debut, like world-electronic fusionist Talvin Singh on tabla. Live, Björk trades the record's club vibe for a vaguely spooky world-music ambience. Harpsichord riffs now form the backbone of "Human Behaviour" and "Venus as a Boy," while "One Day" builds on gamelan percussion. The only time the pace picks up is on "Crying," sustained by lickety-split standup bass.

    It's telling that the super-dancey Debut cut "There's More to Life Than This" isn't included here; if you happen to think it's one of Björk's most underrated tracks, chances are you'll prefer sticking with the discofied joie de vivre of the album's studio version. But if you prefer the musician's more esoteric latter period, this live recording is an essential precursor of the experimentations to come.

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