The #alternative weekend posts were kicked off by 
Björk Guðmundsdóttir has had a lot of chart success and airplay, but she is constantly experimenting with her music. She has been making music since she was a child and performed in a few groups before launching her solo career. She is actually about the same age as me, but has achieved somewhat more musically.
I was given this book some time ago, but do not think I read it until now. I am not always that bothered about reading books concerning the music I am into, but it can be interesting to get some background. I have been listening to the albums as I read about them. I am picking out some live performances for this post.
After The Sugar Cubes split up she record an album Gling-Gló (ding dong) with a jazz trio that is mostly in Icelandic. It was mostly recorded in just two days. I do not think I had heard it before, but it is rather good. I am not against a bit of mellow jazz and her voice definitely lifts it into something special.
Her album Debut was not actually her first solo effort as she made one when she was 11, but this was her real introduction to the world. It was a collaboration with producer Nellee Hooper and was largely influenced by the music she was hearing in clubs after moving to London. However, she chould still pull out something as original as this song that has no driving drums or bass, just her voice and some saxophones.
I think this performance is part of what really got me into her music. The drummer is great. Her second album, Post, was recorded at a studio in the Bahamas and she recorded some vocals whilst walking along the beach. The lyrics are typically odd, but that is part of the charm.
Björk attracts attention with her outlandish costumes and sometimes eccentric behaviour, but her music stands up well. I have seen her twice live and both concerts were magical. I would love to see her again.
Youtube suggested this video which I had not seen before. Not many people would cover a Björk song, but Robyn does a good job, especially as Björk is in the audience.
