Album review: Bjork - Utopia

The provocative sleeve shot of Bjork’s tenth solo album Utopia features the Icelandic singer with what might kindly be described as “lady bits” attached to her forehead, writes Ed Power.

For those who prefer Bjork the pop star over Bjork the experimental artist-who-wants-to-give-you-a-headache, it is not a hopeful portent.

So it’s a pleasant surprise that the record is considerably more uplifting than her previous foray, 2015’s break-up lament Vulnicura. Assembled in the aftermath of her split from artist Matthew Barney that LP was an excruciating exercise in emotional flagellation — a suite of raw-veined dirges which, though well constructed, made for deeply queasy listening.