Watching Bjork’s Biophilia performance at the 2013 Electric Picnic, this journalist was moved to remark that the Icelandic singer’s rubber bodysuit made her look like a Teletubbie with a skin condition. Apparently we were missing the point: rather than mere fancy dress, Biophilia was a high concept commentary on the relationship between technology and nature (hence the spoken word introduction by David Attenborough).
Recorded at London’s Alexandra Palace on the penultimate date of the tour, this chronicling of the show highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of its over-arching premise. For those watching the full video recording, the set is frequently stunning, Bjork’s weird shriek the perfect foil for the gorgeous, surreal video projections. Divorced from this accompaniment, alas, the music underwhelms – there’s far too much from Biophilia, the LP, and a paucity of catalogue tracks.
You expect a certain degree of artiness from Bjork – but it’d be nice if she stooped to the occasional crowd-pleasing flourish too...
OUT NOW.