A Sonic Wonderland Born in Chaos and Glitter
Let’s teleport to 1995 – grunge is cooling, Britpop is booming, and somewhere in the neon-laced labyrinth of London, an Icelandic enigma named Björk is crafting an album that sounds like the future. Enter Post, her second solo studio album and perhaps her most daring adventure into the wild unknown.
From Debut Darling to Avant-Pop Sorceress
After the lush electronic landscapes of her debut Debut (1993), Björk had already proven she was no ordinary pop star. But Post? This was her shapeshifter moment. It was fearless. It was fragmented. It was Björk unleashing her full creative chaos – and inviting us in.
Where Debut felt like a cautious exploration, Post was a full-throttle dive into experimentation. Björk wasn’t just singing anymore; she was conjuring.
An Album Like a Kaleidoscope
Post plays like a mixtape made by a musical time traveler – leaping from genre to genre, yet never feeling disjointed. It’s industrial one moment, orchestral the next. It’s jazz, jungle, techno, and trip-hop – all held together by Björk’s childlike wonder and primal howl.
Some highlights from this sonic mosaic:
- ‘Army of Me’ – Dark, grinding, and confrontational. A sonic gut punch and an empowering anthem.
- ‘Hyperballad’ – Ethereal and heartbreaking, with a four-on-the-floor beat that blooms like a sunrise through tears.
- ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ – A swinging, screaming cover of a Betty Hutton classic – arguably her quirkiest and most unexpected hit.
- ‘Isobel’ – A fairy tale in song form, lush with strings and mystery.
- ‘Enjoy’ – Sexy, grimy, and futuristic, like a rave in a haunted factory.
And yet, amidst the chaos, there’s serenity. “Possibly Maybe” is intimate and eerie, while “Headphones” ends the album with a whispered ode to sonic solitude.
Made in the Middle of Mayhem
What’s wild is that Post was made while Björk was living a whirlwind. She had relocated to London, fallen into a love affair with the city’s music scene, and was simultaneously dodging intense tabloid attention. This tension – between public spectacle and private rebellion – seeps into every track.
She collaborated with an eclectic mix of producers: Nellee Hooper, Tricky, Graham Massey, and Howie B, each helping to shape Post into something that felt simultaneously local and intergalactic.
Visuals as Vital as the Sound
Björk didn’t just craft soundscapes – she created entire worlds. The Post era was iconic for its imagery: think glossy magazine aesthetics, surreal music videos (hello, Michel Gondry!), and that unforgettable album cover with Björk in a technicolor suit surrounded by Tokyo-esque chaos. It was the visual birth of her otherworldly, cyber-fairy persona.
The Legacy of a Risk-Taker
Post wasn’t just an album – it was a manifesto. It said that pop music could be weird, brave, and messy. That it could scream and whisper in the same breath. It laid the groundwork for the genre-defying careers of artists who came after her, from FKA twigs to Grimes to Billie Eilish.
Critically acclaimed and cult-loved, Post remains one of Björk’s most beloved records. It’s the sound of an artist unchained – of a woman who dared to dance in a thunderstorm with glitter in her eyes.
Fun Facts About Post
- Creative Frenzy: Post was mostly written after Björk moved to London, and many tracks were recorded in hotel rooms, tour buses, and makeshift studios while she traveled.
- Unlikely Hit: “It’s Oh So Quiet” became Björk’s biggest UK hit, even though it was a cover of a 1951 Betty Hutton jazz number. Björk called it “the one song that doesn’t represent me.”
- Visual Masterpiece: The video for “Army of Me” was directed by Michel Gondry and features Björk driving a tank and stealing a diamond from a gorilla dentist. Iconic chaos.
- DIY Finale: The track “Headphones” was inspired by listening to music alone at night, and it features ambient whispering and samples from Howie B, giving it a dreamlike closeness.
- Orchestral Magic: “Isobel” was arranged by Brazilian composer Eumir Deodato, giving the track its cinematic, sweeping elegance.
- Genre Bender: Post blends trip-hop, industrial rock, jazz, electronica, big band, and classical—sometimes all in the same song.
- Fashion Moment: The album cover, shot by fashion photographer Stéphane Sednaoui, features Björk in a vintage Alexander McQueen jacket, setting the tone for her avant-garde fashion legacy.
- Critical Darling: Post appears on numerous “Best Albums of the 1990s” lists and helped cement Björk as a major voice in experimental pop.
- Dedicated to a Feeling: Björk has said the album was her attempt to recreate the feeling of falling in love with a city, especially London’s unpredictability and energy.
- No Boundaries: In her own words, Post was about “throwing everything out there—fear, desire, courage, and complete emotional honesty.”
