In 2000, Bjork agreed to star in a rather depressing musical by Danish director, Lars Von Trier Dancer in the Dark. She agreed to act, because Von Trier had commissioned her to compose and sing a score for the movie. After Bjork had composed several songs for the movie, Lars told her that he wanted her to act in the film as the lead character Selma. When Bjork didn't want to act Von Trier said he was going to abandon the project. Bjork didn't want all her efforts wasted and agreed to star in the film. (You can see my review of the film by clicking the related link at the bottom).

At the same time of the films release, Bjork released Selmasongs the collection of music she wrote and performed for Dancer in the Dark. In 2006, this was one of the re released albums for Bjork's box of Surround Sound Dual Discs. It is also available separately, look for the Rhino Dual Disc release. It is titled Bjork - Selma Songs (______Surrounded).

The dual disc features one side with the original stereo album release Compact Disc format, and the other side is a DVD with the album in Surround Sound. The DVD is offered in Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 Surround Sound. Unlike many of the re releases of Bjork's collection, this Dual Disc does NOT have any videos on it. If you want to see the highly imaginative videos you will just have to do what I did and buy the movie Dancer in the Dark. The movie did have a menu option for just accessing the song/dance scenes. It also helps a lot to see the movie to put all the songs on Selmasongs in context.

Now a brief description of the 7 tracks

Overture Overture is just that, an overture, a musical prelude to the movie. No singing, no funny Bjork sounds, just an orchhestral overture, and a very beautiful grand one it is.

Cvalda is more Bjork like, because she takes the sound of machines in a factory and incorporates them into a song. Saws, lathes, and other machines begin the song, which soon bursts forth into a full musical piece. It is quite inventive. Bjork makes up some words more entertaining than Phil Collins creation of Sussudio. I admit, the song sounded a bit odd when I first listened, but after seeing the movie Dancer in the Dark it all made sense.

I've seen it All starts with the sound of a train barreling down a track (fitting, since the scene in the music takes place in a musical song that takes place on the railroad tracks between Selma and Jeff in the movie). It is a sad song in which Bjork (as Selma) describes why she is not depressed about going blind. I've seen it all, I have seen the trees, I have seen the willow leaves dancing in the breeze Thom Yorke sings the other verses here, instead of actor Peter Stormare. Yorke sounds more musical, but Stormare sounded more heartfelt in the movie. (although the joke is probably on me, I am not positive that Stormare actually sang his part in the movie). It is a sad song of lament, and quite fitting for a musical. It doesn't have the grandeur of Phantom of the Opera, but it works.

Scatterheart begins with popping sounds. (Bjork dear, I love you, but stop putting sounds in your songs that make it sound like one of my speaker wires is loose, thank you.). Don't bother checking your connections, that is the sound of the song. I loved the use of surround sound on this song, Bjork appears in the front channel left and right, but then also whispers in the center channel giving a really cool effect to the song. This sounds very Bjorkish, and stands alone without the musical. Her lyrical voice implores you're going to have to find out for yourself. She has such a beautiful voice. I also love the way she whispers verses from the center I'd love to lead you the way, just to make it easier on you

In the Musicals Again, this song makes more sense if you see the movie, but its a fun song about how life is grand in the musicals. Don't believe for a minute that nothing bad every happens though! Lots of great percussion in here, and very little of it from traditional percussion instruments. Oh, and an orchestra wells up in there too! Just seeing Bjork in this you can sing along Why do I love you so much, what kind of magic is this, How come I can't help adore you? You are in a musical You can also hear a lot of frantic tap dancing in this song.

107 Steps This is a sad song, and I won't tell you why. Strings start the song, and the counting of steps. I can't even tell you why this song makes me so sad. The use of rhythm here is well done though.

New World is the final song from the movie and the album. It is an upbeat happy song, and I love the way Bjorks voice wells up to sing it. The tune is reminicent of the overture, but now it has lyrics and Bjork sounds overlayed on the themes. If living is seeing, I'm holding my breath in wonder, I wonder what happens next. A new world, a new day to see

No videos are included on this dual disc, but the surround sound mixes were all very well done. If you want to see the accompanying videos, you will have to do what I did and buy the movie! Then you can watch the videos whenever you want. The mixes are slightly different.

Summary This only gets four stars from me for two reasons. One, the songs don't hold up as well without the movie background. When I first listened to this album, it didn't make sense, it was only after I had seen the movie that the songs fell into place for me. Two, it is a SHORT album, only measuring in at about half an hour. I like to spend more time with Bjork than that. Nevertheless, it was certainly a soundtrack worth releasing, and I was glad that it was included in the Bjork Box.

Related Movie Review

Dancer in the Dark (starring Bjork with music by Bjork)

Other Bjork Albums on Dual Disc in Surround Sound:

I Met a Woman from Iceland, I Think I'm in Love : Review of Bjork Post (__ Surrounded) Dual Disc

I Love You Bjork : Review of Bjork - Debut (__ Surrounded) Dual Disc

I fall Deeper in Love with Bjork : Review of Bjork Homogenic (___ Surrounded) dual disc



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