Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk released her new album Vulnicura unexpectedly on iTunes yesterday, following a leak of the recordings. The album quickly became the number 1 most downloaded album on iTunes in more than 30 countries, including the UK.
According to a press release from Björk’s record label in Iceland, Smekkleysa, Vulnicura has been praised on social media around the world and has received rave reviews by music critics. Her approach to pirating is considered to be unique.
Björk discusses her deeply personal album on bjork.com:
“I guess I found in my lap one year into writing it a complete heartbreak album. Kinda surprised how thoroughly I had documented this in pretty much accurate emotional chronology …. like 3 songs before a break up and three after. So the anthropologist in me sneaked in and I decided to share them as such.”
…
“And then a magic thing happened to me: as I lost one thing something else entered. Alejandro contacted me late summer 2013 and was interested in working with me. It was perfect timing. To make beats to the songs would have taken me 3 years (like on Vespertine) but this enchanted arca would visit me repeatedly and only few months later we had a whole album!!! It is one of the most enjoyable collaboration[s] I have had!”
Following the release, Björk has announced a series of concerts in New York, the first will be held in Carnegie Hall at 12 noon on March 7.
Vulnicura is Björk’s eighth solo album. Her last album, Biophilia was released in 2011.
The new album is also available for download on Icelandic music website tonlist.is.
