By now, the latter-day Björk project – beats and strings like living things, electronics in awe at the cosmos, Björk’s inimitable holler – has become familiar. Atoms can still dance around on track seven, but this is a very different Björk LP. Vulnicura finds the Icelandic artist charting the breakdown of her relationship; beatmaker Arca, backing vocalist Antony Hegarty and mixer the Haxan Cloak provide backup. The pain is all hers, though. Black Lake is a vortex of hurt and defiance, Quicksand accuses Matthew Barney of visiting the sins of the father on the entire female line, from Björk to their daughter to any daughters she may have. Heavy, but engrossing.
