The best concert albums bring home the excitement of the live experience. Though the songs might not sound as polished as the studio versions, live records present us with different iterations of music that have continued to gestate long after the producer has applied the finishing touches. On triple-live album Cornucopia Live, released October 24, Björk distills what was a multimedia experience down to its very essence: the music.
Taken from the September 1, 2023, performance at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Cornucopia was initially released as a concert film directed by Ísold Uggadóttir earlier this year, along with a shortened audio-only version streaming on Apple Music. This new version, released on vinyl and CD, contains the entire 90-minute experience. The concert film is also available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray.
The show was part of Björk’s Cornucopia tour, which ran from 2019 to 2023. With half its songs pulled from Utopia (2017), the rest of the set is drawn from various corners of the musician’s career, including songs from her newest album Fossora (2022). At an hour and a half, the live record certainly feels its length at times, but the advantage to the vinyl version is the opportunity to take breaks between each side.
After a brief introduction featuring nature sounds, Björk begins the concert with a divinely ethereal version of “The Gate.” Backed by a choir, strings, and other instruments such as flute, Björk’s voice commands the listener’s attention. Without the extravagant visuals to pull attention away, this audio-only iteration puts the singer front and center without distraction. For example, on “Show Me Forgiveness” from Medúlla (2004), she turns in an emotional, captivating a capella performance. Meanwhile, “Isobel”—the sole song from Björk’s ’90s output—is updated to a more languid pace but still retains the twitchy feeling of the original.
As on Utopia, flute plays a major role here. The instrument playfully courses over the brief, spoken-word “Arpeggio.” But not everything is lightness here. The flute stabs in devastating blows over the nearly 11-minute “Body Memory.” And “Sue Me,” which comes later in the record, can feel rough-hewn. Yet, like all of Björk’s music, beauty peeks out from even the most difficult terrain. By the time Cornucopia Live ends with a gorgeously devastating version of “Future Forever,” we are reminded yet again that Björk is a demanding artist who refuses to pander. She does not tour often and when she does, the shows are often reserved for major cities. Cornucopia Live allows those who missed the tour, and those who want to relive it, the chance to experience the power of Björk live.