Drawing Restraint 9

An unconventional and somewhat challenging soundtrack to the work of a singularly strange filmmaker, Bjork's score for her partner Matthew Barney's DRAWING RESTRAINT 9 takes the Icelandic performer's already adventurous aesthetic to new extremes. While a few tracks featuring Bjork (or, in the case of "Gratitude," Will Oldham) on vocals vaguely resemble her more pop-friendly outings, much of this album is steeped in avant-garde atmospherics that include lilting harp passages (the aforementioned "Gratitude"), ominous brass interludes ("Hunter Vessel"), and even haunting Japanese Noh singing ("Holographic Entrypoint"). Although DRAWING RESTRAINT 9 may perplex some listeners, those patient enough to follow Bjork down almost any path will find plenty to appreciate here.