Wednesday, May 27, 1998
Bjoerk’s performance leaves fans homogeneously sated
MUSIC: Ethereal presence onstage entrances audience, unveils
artist’s unique style
By Michelle Zubiate
Daily Bruin Contributor
It must be her month. If you own the KROQ calendar, all month
long her soulful eyes will gaze intently back at you. If you flip
the channels of your television, you’ll find her story unveiled.
And if you happened to catch her at the Palladium Saturday night,
Bjoerk would’ve moved you with her voice, sound and one-of-a-kind
style.
Bjoerk began her professional career at age 11, when she
released her self-titled debut album containing covers of folk
songs from her home country, Iceland. Coming from a musical
household, she joined numerous punk bands until she decided to
explore the industry with The Sugarcubes in the late 1980s. Since
then, however, the band split up, and she’s released three solo
international albums including "Debut," "Post" and "Homogenic."
Every album shows a different side of her. Mysterious and
diverse, the sounds of "Homogenic" contrast the playful
instrumentation of "Post" and the club beats of "Debut." She grows
with each album and to be able to catch her live remains a rare
privilege.
At the long-anticipated concert, Bjoerk dazzled the sold-out
crowd with a performance that only Bjoerk could give. Dressed like
a small fairy in white, she charmed the house with a powerful voice
and the strength of a genre all her own. Drawing from the sounds of
electronic dance, jazz and pop, her talent captured the crowd with
its established vitality.
Taking a survey of the audience present, it became obvious that
Bjoerk’s fans take in her inspiration when it comes to style and
eccentricity. Everywhere you looked, there was a mix of wide leg
jeans, flowing dresses, platform shoes and hair donned with
multiple buns. Loyally excited fans waited for her performance by
grooving to the sounds of opening band U-Zig and a mix of dance
music. Once Bjoerk stepped on stage, however, they stood enraptured
by her presence.
She opened the night by dedicating her first song, "Headphones,"
to "all the compilation tapes we make for each other."
Right away she paralyzed the crowd with awe. For the first few
songs, every person remained almost motionless while her clear,
crystal voice carried in melodic waves. In some songs she danced
and grabbed command of the stage by marching about with the
synchronization of a toy soldier. Other songs inspired her to run
back and forth in excitement, and still others only required slight
hand motions to make the song belong to her and only her. Just as
her music lies in a class by itself, her movements seemed derived
from a source within and definitely all her own.
The ambience of the stage itself even suggested immense
creativity and beauty. Bjoerk sang amidst a flowing iridescent
backdrop, a sophisticated string ensemble and a beat-thumping
deejay. Like an eerie dream, her songs gained richness from the
versatility of her influences. The beginning songs started off in a
slow, sweet a cappella and soon graduated into a series of
unstoppable, punching dance hits that broke the crowd from its
stupor and sent it into a frenzy of moving bodies. Colorful
lighting swam around her and submerged her into a sea of sultry
spirit.
She produced a set of both old and new favorites from the
intensity of "Hunter" from her newest release "Homogenic" to the
fast-paced beats of "Violently Happy" that marked as one of the top
20 hits from her first solo album "Debut." The audience went wild
with recognition of almost every song. Her personality shined
through every melody as she smiled slyly to the audience and
punctuated each song with a short, cute "thank you."
The upbeat melodies of the final song, "Pluto," left the
audience wild and screaming for an encore. After a long wait she
appeased the request with the soft, soothing ballad, "Joga," and
the lasting power of "Play Dead."
Between that certain melodic grace and those oddly endearing
mannerisms she carries, the crowd could not help but fall in love
with Bjoerk all over again. They left the Palladium that night with
an enriched sense of definite satisfaction.
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Bjoerk enchants the Palladium crowd with her hypnotic melodies
Saturday night.