Björk - Post

After Debut's success, the pressure was on Björk to surpass that album's creative, tantalizing electronic pop. She more than delivered with 1995's Post; from the menacing, industrial-tinged opener, "Army of Me," it's clear that this album is not simply Debut redux. The songs' production and arrangements -- especially those of the epic, modern fairy tale "Isobel" -- all aim for, and accomplish, more. Post also features Debut producer Nellee Hooper, 808 State's Graham Massey, Howie B, and Tricky, who help Björk incorporate a spectrum of electronic and orchestral styles into songs like "Hyperballad," which sounds like a love song penned by Aphex Twin. Meanwhile, the bristling beats on the volatile, sensual "Enjoy" and the fragile, weightless ballad "Possibly Maybe" nod to trip-hop without being overwhelmed by it. As on Debut, Björk finds new ways of expressing timeworn emotions like love, lust, and yearning in abstractly precise lyrics like "Since you went away/I'm wearing lipstick again/I suck my tongue in remembrance of you," from "Possibly Maybe." But Post's emotional peaks and valleys are more extreme than Debut's. "I Miss You"'s exuberance is so animated, it makes perfect sense that Ren & Stimpy's John Kricfalusi directed the song's video. Likewise, "It's Oh So Quiet" -- which eventually led to Björk's award-winning turn as Selma in Dancer in the Dark -- is so cartoonishly vibrant, it could have been arranged by Warner Bros. musical director Carl Stalling. Yet Björk sounds equally comfortable with an understated string section on "You've Been Flirting Again." "Headphones" ends the album on an experimental, hypnotic note, layering Björk's vocals over and over till they circle each other atop a bubbling, minimal beat. The work of a constantly changing artist, Post proves that as Björk moves toward more ambitious, complex music, she always surpasses herself. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adrian Scarff Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Al Fisch Engineer Al Stone Mixing, Mixing Engineer Alan Barnes Musician, ? Bill Skeat ? Björk Vocals, Brass Arrangement, Audio Production, Producer, String Arrangements, Keyboards, Organ Bob Sydor Musician, ? Colin Green Musician, ? Connie Hughes ?, Musician Deodato String Arrangements, Conductor Einar Örn Trumpet Gary Barnacle ?, Sax (Soprano) Gavyn Wright Orchestra Leader, Concert Master Gorby Assistant Engineer Graham Massey Audio Production, Keyboards, Producer, Programming Guy Sigsworth Harpsichord Howard Howie Bernstein Engineer, Mixing Howie B Producer, Programming, Mixing, Engineer Hussein Chalaya Clothing/Wardrobe, Jacket Design Isobel Griffiths Orchestra Contractor, Contractor J. Neil Sidwell ?, Musician Jim Couza Dulcimer (Hammer) John Altman Orchestration, Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements John Barclay ?, Musician Jon P. Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Kirsten Cowie Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Lenny Franchi Programming, Engineer Malcolm Griffiths Musician, ? Marius de Vries Keyboards, Programming Mark "Spike" Stent Mixing Mark Warner Assistant Engineer Markus Dravs Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mixing, Electronic Noise, Electronic Sounds Martin Gardiner Model, ? Maurice Murphy Trumpet Me Company Artwork, Cover Design Nellee Hooper Audio Production, Producer Niall Acott Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Nick Kirkland Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Oswald "Wiz" Bowe Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Paul Morgan ?, Musician Pete Beachill ?, Musician Philip Todd ?, Musician Ralph Salmins ?, Musician Ray Swinfield ?, Musician Robert Smissen Viola Simon Chamberlain Musician, ? Simon Gardner Musician, ? Stephane Sednaoui Photography Steve Price Engineer Steve Saunders Musician, ? Steve Waterman Musician, ? Stuart Brooks Trumpet Talvin Singh Percussion Tony Pleeth Cello Tricky Programming, Producer, Audio Production, Keyboards Will O'Donovan Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant