Vespertine

Björk had released her previous studio album, Homogenic, in 1997. The album's style differed from her previous two releases, described by her as "very emotionally confrontational and [...] very dramatic".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/bjork01/index4.jhtml|title=björk: in focus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050319142141/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/b/bjork01/index4.jhtml|archive-date=19 March 2005|url-status=dead|publisher=MTV|date=March 2001|access-date=27 April 2016}} She also described "All Is Full of Love"—Homogenic{{'}}s closing track—as the first song on Vespertine, as it opposed the rest of the album's "aggressive, macho" aesthetic.{{cite web|url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-01/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821183218/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-01/index.htm|title=GH&FT special: All Is Full of Love|website=bjork.com|archive-date=21 August 2006|access-date=25 November 2014}} Writer and critic Mark Pytlik writes, "Her appetite for thumping techno had been, temporarily at least, subsumed by a desire for stark melodies and minimalist production".{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=159}} In 2000, she starred in Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark, and composed its soundtrack, Selmasongs.{{cite web |last=Heath |first=Chris |date=17 October 2011 |title=Lars and His Real Girls |url=https://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201110/lars-von-trier-gq-interview-bjork-john-c-reilly-kirsten-dunst-nicole-kidman-extras |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218175114/http://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201110/lars-von-trier-gq-interview-bjork-john-c-reilly-kirsten-dunst-nicole-kidman-extras |archive-date=18 December 2014 |access-date=7 July 2011 |work=GQ}} While she worked on the film, she also began producing her next album, writing new music, and teaming with new collaborators. She has said "Selmasongs was the day job and Vespertine was the hobby".{{cite magazine |title=The Twilight World of Björk|magazine=NME|date=11 August 2001}} During this time, she also began to use her new laptop to write music, and Vespertine has been retrospectively referred to as "her laptop album".{{cite magazine |last=Toop |first=David |date=September 2001 |title=The Twilight World of Björk |magazine=The Wire}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/bjork-vulnicura|title=Björk: Vulnicura|last1=Mac|first1=Sam C.|date=20 January 2015|magazine=Slant Magazine|access-date=13 April 2016|archive-date=24 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524041244/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/bjork-vulnicura|url-status=live}}

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She initially set about making a record with a domestic mood featuring "everyday moods and everyday noises translating into melodies and beats", hence its working title Domestika. Marius de Vries told Sound on Sound that the project was driven by an "overriding aesthetic of being homely and comfortable", which had "all to do with Björk wanting to make a record as a reaction to the wanderings and the pain she experienced making Dancer in the Dark… [and coming back] after you've wandered." Björk's initial idea was also to "celebrat[e] the banalities of everyday life."{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=176}} For example, the title track "Domestica", originally titled "Lost Keys", was meant to be a "gentle, humorous snapshot" of Björk looking for her keys.

Her new relationship with artist Matthew Barney, and the stress she experienced while filming Dancer in the Dark, have been referred to as the two major forces that shaped what would become Vespertine.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=155}} Her relationship with Barney influenced her lyrics, which became more intimate, detailed, and revealing in contrast to her past works.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=160}} As Björk had to be extroverted during the filming process, the music she wrote for Vespertine also became hushed and tranquil as a way for her to escape.

The eventual title change of the record reveals its changing nature. Writer and critic Mark Pytlik notes that, "where [Domestika] signified a focus of extracting magic from the platitudes of everyday life, [Vespertine] [...] suggested a creation of magic through much more powerful forces. In fine style, Björk had set out to write an album about making sandwiches.{{refn|group=nb|Referring to a 2001 interview with NME, during which Björk stated "This is [...] music for the home. It's corny to make a soundtrack for making a sandwich, but I quite like it."}} She'd ended up with an album about making love". A stylistic antecedent was her poem "Techno Prayer", published in Details magazine in July 1996, which would later be used as part of the lyrics of "All Neon Like". It featured thematic ideas such as cocooning and thread-weaving that she would later explore on Vespertine.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=170}}

The earliest sessions took place in Spain with programmer Jake Davies.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/articles/mdevires1101.asp|title=Musical Differences|first=Flint|last=Tom|date=November 2001|magazine=Sound on Sound|access-date=17 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426150821/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov01/articles/mdevires1101.asp|archive-date=26 April 2016}} Björk commissioned Valgeir Sigurðsson to relocate some of his studio equipment from Iceland to Denmark where Dancer in the Dark was being filmed. While living in Copenhagen, she also contacted the electronic musician Thomas Knak (also known as Opiate), after having enjoyed his 1999 album Objects for an Ideal Home.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=156}}

In Iceland, programmers Jake Davies and Marius de Vries joined Björk for a writing session, laying down more tracks, in addition to nine already mixed. Then, she "set up camp [...] during summer" in a New York City loft, and began to work with harpist Zeena Parkins. Much of Vespertine was "composed, crafted and edited" in that loft, in what has been called the "Domestika sessions". Some tracks were recorded as an overdub "on top of a slave mixdown" of the Spanish sessions.

"Undo" was written during a two-week session with Knak that January in Reykjavík. Björk recorded her vocals on top of Knak's minimalist rhythmic backbone, and months later she had added a full choir and string section.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=162}} "Cocoon", also produced by Knak, was one of the last songs to be written for the album; its melody suddenly came to Björk and she contacted him. Knak took it as a chance to make a more minimal track, similar to his own releases.

"Heirloom" was based on an existing instrumental track from electronic musician Console's album Rocket in the Pocket (1998), titled "Crabcraft" (which itself samples Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's "Sacred Heart").{{Cite AV media notes|title=Rocket in the Pocket|title-link=Rocket in the Pocket|date=1998|publisher=Payola Records|id=Payola A4}} Björk contacted Console in early 2000 and they met in London; she then added her vocals on top.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|pages=160–161, 179}} During this period, Björk also worked with Bogdan Raczynski on the song "Who Is It", but it did not make the final cut and was subsequently re-recorded for the album Medúlla. Björk said that she worked on Vespertine for three years.{{cite web |last=Hopper |first=Jessica |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/9582-the-invisible-woman-a-conversation-with-bjork/ |date=21 January 2015 |title=The Invisible Woman: A Conversation with Björk |website=Pitchfork |access-date=11 April 2024 |archive-date=19 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319160207/https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/9582-the-invisible-woman-a-conversation-with-bjork/ |url-status=live}} Also published in {{cite book |title=The Pitchfork Review |issue=5 |pages=38–51 |publisher=Pitchfork Media |isbn=978-0-9913992-4-6 |date=21 April 2015}}

As she wanted to write her own songs on music boxes, Björk contacted a music box company requesting transparent acrylic boxes because she wanted the sound to be "as hard as possible, like it was frozen".{{cite web |title=GH&FT special : Pagan Poetry |url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-07/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227064330/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-07/index.htm |archive-date=27 February 2010 |access-date=31 July 2014 |website=bjork.com}} Björk decided to use sounds that would not be compromised when downloaded from sites such as Napster, such as "microbeat[s]", whispered vocals, the harp, music box, celeste, clavichord, and strings which "ended up being more panoramic textures in the background." For the string and music box arrangements, she used Sibelius scorewriter software.{{cite magazine |date=May 2002 |title=Beat Manifestos: Björk |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.05/manifestos.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227064330/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-07/index.htm |archive-date=27 February 2010 |access-date=3 March 2016}}

For Vespertine, Björk wanted to make a "microcosmos of thirty or forty beats interacting".Gestsdóttir, R. (Director). (2003). Minuscule [Documentary]. One Little Indian To do this, she recorded noises around her house to make beats out of them. Once the songs were almost finished, Björk contacted the duo Matmos, who she considered "virtuosos" in the field, and sent them various songs to work with. They added beats made from the noise of crushing ice and shuffling cards, among others. In her documentary Minuscule, Björk explained that this process consisted of "taking something very tiny and magnifying it up to big", intending to convey the "sensation that you've been told a secret", that is also present in micrographs. Marius de Vries and Björk did much of the sound design on Vespertine with a text-based synthesizer called SuperCollider. De Vries said that typing in commands as opposed to using knobs, "take[s] you in surprising directions." Additionally, Knak used an Ensoniq ASR-10, for "Cocoon".

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| source = — Wondering Sound describing the sound of Vespertine.{{cite web|url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/icon/bjork-2/ |title=Icon: Björk |website=Wondering Sound |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=22 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726193458/http://www.wonderingsound.com/icon/bjork-2/ |archive-date=26 July 2014 }}

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Björk has stated that she wanted the album to sound like "modern chamber music", referring to the times where "the most ideal music situation was in the home, where people would play harps for each other".{{cite magazine |last=Harris|first=John|date=August 2001|title=I don't like rock|magazine=Q|isbn=978-0-417-08084-0}}{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Bill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCLyCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA157 |title=Avant Rock: Experimental Music from the Beatles to Bjork |date=12 February 2002 |publisher=Open Court |isbn=978-0-8126-9500-7 |page=157 |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014055/https://books.google.com/books?id=CCLyCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA157#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=12 December 2023 |url-status=live}} She also considers Vespertine to be the opposite of her previous studio album Homogenic, the former being an introverted, quiet, winter record; the latter a loud, dramatic, summer record. Björk has also described the album as "more electronic folk music".

Critics have classified Vespertine as electronica, art pop,{{cite news|title=Live Box|last1=Coleman|first1=Nick|date=31 August 2003|work=The Independent}} psychedelia,{{cite news |author= |title=Björk – "Vespertine" (Elektra)|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=30 June 2001}}{{cite book|author-link1=Jim DeRogatis|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|date=1 January 2003|title=Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U7cQmRsLgN8C&pg=PA578|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|page=578|isbn=978-0-634-05548-5|access-date=6 March 2016|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014124/https://books.google.com/books?id=U7cQmRsLgN8C&pg=PA578#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} ambient, trip-hop, folktronica,{{cite magazine |last=Killingsworth |first=Jason |date=2 November 2009 |title=The 50 Best Albums of the Decade (2000–2009) |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/the-best-albums-of-the-decade.html |magazine=Paste |access-date=10 March 2015 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707160846/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/the-best-albums-of-the-decade.html |url-status=dead }} and glitch pop.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11675-debut-live-post-live-homogenic-live-vespertine-live/|last=Plagenhoef|first=Scott|title=Björk: Debut Live / Post Live / Homogenic Live / Vespertine Live|work=Pitchfork|date=9 June 2004|access-date=9 July 2014|quote=Live, Vespertine{{'}}s glitch-pop nuances are magnified, the choir is less cloying, and the music box melodies are more embraceable.|archive-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318214338/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11675-debut-live-post-live-homogenic-live-vespertine-live/|url-status=live}}{{harvnb|Gittins|Hoard|2004|page=120}} Music journalists have also noted the experimental nature of the record.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-20110718/bjork-vespertine-20110711|title=100 Best Albums of the 2000s: Bjork, 'Vespertine'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=18 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2014|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055217/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-20110718/bjork-vespertine-20110711|url-status=live}} The Orlando Weekly wrote that with the album, Björk "[took] her modernist art-pop further into the abstract".{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2001/09/20/review-vespertine|title=Review – Vespertine|newspaper=Orlando Weekly|date=20 September 2001|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306115829/http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2001/09/20/review-vespertine|url-status=live}} According to Joseph Hale of Tiny Mix Tapes, described Vespertine's music as a combination of "psychedelic techno, chamber music, and chorale together into modal constructions that swelled and receded like emotions (or psylocibin)".{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/favorite-100-albums-2000-2009-60-41|title=Favorite 100 Albums of 2000–2009: 60–41|website=Tiny Mix Tapes|date=February 2010|access-date=31 December 2014|archive-date=21 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221085148/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/favorite-100-albums-2000-2009-60-41|url-status=live}} David Fricke of Rolling Stone wrote "Vespertine is the closest any pop-vocal album has come to the luxuriant Zen of the new minimalist techno". Björk's performance on Vespertine has been described as that of an "art-rock torch singer".{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2007/05/bjrk-still-weird-after-all-these-years/|last=Liu|first=Jonathan|title=Björk: Still Weird After All These Years|work=The New York Observer|date=5 January 2007|access-date=24 February 2015|quote=...morphed into the art-rock torch singer of 2001's Vespertine...|archive-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225000300/http://observer.com/2007/05/bjrk-still-weird-after-all-these-years/|url-status=live}}

Stylistically, Vespertine incorporates elements of both art and dance music.{{cite journal |title=Subjectivity and the Construction of Emotion in the Music of Björk|last1=Dibben|first1=Nicola|date=March 2006|journal=Music Analysis|volume=25|issue=1–2|pages=171–197|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2249.2006.00237.x|doi-access=free}} For example, the instrumentation of choir, strings, and harp is suggestive of Romantic art music, while the "synthesised keyboard sonorities, filtering effects and complex percussive sounds" are elements characteristic of dance-based pop. Academic Nicola Dibben wrote that its "classical and dance-based elements" combine "the spiritual and the sensual" allusions of the album.

Vespertine is also characterised by "the obsession with sonic traces of analog technology – that is, the pervasive use of loops, static and white noise".{{cite book|last1=Howe|first1=Blake|last2=Jensen-Moulton|first2=Stephanie|last3=Lerner|first3=Neil|last4=Straus|first4=Joseph|date=15 October 2015|title=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Disability Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZSFCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA162|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=162|isbn=978-0-19-933144-4|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014056/https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZSFCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA162#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} Unlike previous albums like Debut and Post, "electronic sounds are the norm, and the acoustic sounds become the interjections." Influenced by the 1999 album New Ancient Strings, a recording of kora duets by Toumani Diabaté with Ballaké Sissoko,{{refn|group=nb|Although Vespertine does not feature kora, Björk would later collaborate with Toumani Diabaté on the track "Hope" from her 2007 album Volta.{{cite news |last=Honigmann |first=David |date=1 February 2008 |title='We are the memory' |newspaper=Financial Times |location=London |publisher=The Financial Times Ltd. |url=https://www.ft.com/content/67d38b32-d053-11dc-9309-0000779fd2ac |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220514010632/https://www.ft.com/content/67d38b32-d053-11dc-9309-0000779fd2ac |url-status=live |archive-date=14 May 2022 |access-date=13 May 2022}}}} Björk said she "messed up the sound of too angelic instruments, like the harp or the glockenspiel" on Vespertine.{{cite web |last=Beauvallet |first=Jean-Daniel |date=23 April 2007 |title=Björk raconte Volta sur lesinrocks.com |trans-title=Björk talks Volta with lesinrocks.com |language=fr |website=Les Inrockuptibles |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/musique/bjork-raconte-volta-sur-lesinrocks-com-67697-23-04-2007/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220514004852/https://www.lesinrocks.com/musique/bjork-raconte-volta-sur-lesinrocks-com-67697-23-04-2007/ |archive-date=14 May 2022 |access-date=13 May 2022}} Björk's voice is used as a supplement to "the complex electronic textures". Her vocals often appear to be recorded close to the microphone and with little treatment, and sung in a sometimes "unstable whisper", conveying a sense of close proximity and reduced space suitable for the intimate lyrics.{{cite book|last=Born|first=Georgina|date=17 January 2013|title=Music, Sound and Space: Transformations of Public and Private Experience|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hpUuTMBNiJ0C&pg=PA100|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=99–100|isbn=978-1-107-50412-7|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014056/https://books.google.com/books?id=hpUuTMBNiJ0C&pg=PA100#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}

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The album opens with "Hidden Place", which features a soprano section and strings, "over the top of a warm, intimate melody". Michael Hubbard of musicOMH felt the track was reminiscent of Homogenic's "Hunter", but less focused on the beats. NME called it progressive folk,{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews//5485|title=Bjork : Hidden Place|last=Dalton|first=Stephen|work=NME|date=25 July 2001|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085745/http://www.nme.com/reviews//5485|url-status=live}} while Drowned in Sound wrote it was electro.{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/5205/reviews/1931-|title=Single Review: Björk – Hidden Place|last=Merryweather|first=David|work=Drowned in Sound|date=14 August 2001|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810034059/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/5205/reviews/1931-|url-status=dead}} Björk sings about "how two people can create a paradise just by uniting", as she intones: "I'm so close to tears/And so close to/Simply calling you up/And simply suggesting/We go to that hidden place". "Cocoon" is "based around an exploratory bassline and beats that sound like fingertips on skin".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/26/10-of-the-best-bjork|title=10 of the best: Björk|last1=Cragg|first1=Michael|date=26 March 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 February 2016|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223113320/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/26/10-of-the-best-bjork|url-status=live}} Discussing the glitch nature of the track, Björk said, "when you take technology and use the areas where it breaks, where it's faulty, you're entering a mystery zone where you can't control it".{{cite web|url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/cocoon/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050820035833/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/cocoon/|title=Cocoon|website=bjork.com|archive-date=20 August 2005|access-date=31 July 2014}} Lyrically revolving around making love, the song alternates between metaphors like "Who would have known/That a boy like him/Would have entered me lightly/Restoring my blisses", and explicit lines such as "He slides inside/Half awake, half asleep" and "Gorgeousness/He's still inside me". Björk sings a breathy, "whispered, near-cracking falsetto" on the track.

"It's Not Up to You" has been described as a "dizzying ballad" and a song that lifts the album upward.{{cite magazine|volume=3|number=6|date=June 2007|title=Discography: Björk|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9hzCYGgoKQIC&pg=PA74|magazine=Spin|issn=0886-3032|via=Google Books|access-date=5 February 2016|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014056/https://books.google.com/books?id=9hzCYGgoKQIC&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} Michael Paoletta of Billboard described the track as "melancholy".{{cite magazine |volume=113 |number=35|date=September 2001|title=Reviews & Previews: Albums|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8xEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|access-date=5 February 2016}} Its lyrics are about "love for the unknown devices that culminate in 'perfect days'",{{cite magazine |volume=209–214|author=Hua Hsu|date=2001|title=Vespertine – soundcheck|page=52|magazine=The Wire}} and "pleas to find beauty in unlikely places".{{cite magazine |volume=34|last=Brown|first=Ethan|date=2001|title=Pop Music|page=155|magazine=New York}} The "caressing lyrics" of "Undo" assure that: "It's not meant to be a strife/It's not meant to be a struggle uphill".{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53|number=96|last=Gladstone|first=Neil|date=September 2001|title=Brighter Later|issn=1074-6978|magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly|access-date=5 February 2016|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014056/https://books.google.com/books?id=sCoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} Biographer Mark Pytlik wrote that "Undo" is "a reassuring reminder that anything can happen once you let it. If you are in pain, undo it, Björk suggests, no hint of disingenuousness in her voice, over climbing strings and a rising choir".{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=195}} "Pagan Poetry" is a "harp-splashed" song that concerns unrequited love.{{cite magazine|volume=113|number=30|date=28 July 2001|title=Björk Paints From New Palette For Elektra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-RMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA78|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|access-date=10 February 2016|last=Paoletta|first=Mike|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014056/https://books.google.com/books?id=-RMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA78#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} The track builds slowly, "with Björk wailing over swelling keyboard crescendos", until, at the four-minute mark, "all the music drops away, leaving Björk utterly exposed" as she sings "I love him, I love him/I love him, I love him/I love him, I love him".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/guided-voices/|title=Guided by Voices|last1=Rosen|first1=Jody|date=21 October 2004|magazine=The Nation|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215155122/http://www.thenation.com/article/guided-voices/|url-status=dead}} The song also features "a flotilla of music boxes with an Asian-teahouse touch". The instrumental interlude "Frosti" has been described as "metallic tundra".{{cite magazine |volume=245–250|date=2004|title=A Guess at the Riddle|last=Southgate|first=Nick|page=58|magazine=The Wire}} Its sound stems from a music box,{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rCoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA85|number=85|last=Sherburne|first=Philip|date=October 2001|title=Björk – Vespertine|issn=1074-6978|magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly}} creating an intimate, fairy tale-like effect.

"Frosti" fades into "Aurora", while "a warm, faintly crunchy sound" is heard.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=173}} These are samples of footsteps in the snow—the work of Matmos—re-appropriated as the song's "subtly shifting beat". "Aurora" has been described as "something that appeals to a child-like imagination", and having a "magical and airy quality".{{cite book |last1=Pereira Macedo|first1=Donaldo|last2=Steinberg|first2= Shirley R.|year=2007|title=Media literacy: a reader |publisher=Peter Lang International Academic Publishers|isbn=978-0-8204-8668-0}} In the lyrics, she addresses a Nature goddess, and sings about "literally dissolving with pleasure" as she "prays to become one with… the northern lights". One of Björk's broodiest compositions, "An Echo, a Stain" is underpinned by a creeping choir line and nibbling clicks, and features an "unresolved, ominous tension" that is atypical of her writing style.{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=172}} Most of the song's lyrics speak directly to incidents in Sarah Kane's 1998 dark-themed play Crave, so much so that it was titled "Crave" up to the last minute. "Sun in My Mouth" is an adaptation of E. E. Cummings' poem "I will wade out/Till my thighs are steeped in burning flowers", with an emphasis on the vocal and accompaniment provided by a string orchestra, a harp, and soft electronica.{{cite book |last1=Flajšar|first1=Jirí|last2=Vernyik|first2=Zénó|date=1 November 2007|title=Words into Pictures: E. E. Cummings' Art Across Borders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ohMaBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA180|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|page=180|isbn=978-1-84718-335-4}} The track's lyrics have been considered a "startling allusion to masturbation", positioned "within the fantasy-like imagery of burning flowers, sea-girls, darkness and the sun".

"Heirloom" alters "between what sounds like a samba preset on a vintage Wurlitzer organ and skittering breakbeats, and is decorated with inverted synthtones and analog keyboards". The song's lyrics tell a "fuzzy story" about a recurring dream, while "[likening] the art of singing to swallowing and exhaling 'glowing lights'" as Björk sings: "During the night/They do a trapeze walk/Until they're in the sky/Right above my bed". Film director Harmony Korine wrote "Harm of Will"'s lyrics. The Slate album review noted the minimalist nature of the track, pointing out a lack of hook, beat and melody.{{cite magazine |date=5 September 2001|title=Judge Björk|magazine=Slate. The Slate Group}} It is a slow song, as is the closing track, "Unison".{{cite web|url=http://www.an-mag.com/bjork-vespertine/|title=Delayed Reaction: Björk — "Vespertine"|last1=Bell|first1=Corey|work=Art Nouveau Magazine|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215220929/http://www.an-mag.com/bjork-vespertine/|url-status=live}} The latter "[contains] a refrain directly inspired by [Björk's] experience in Dancer in the Dark and a healthy dollop of self-effacing humor evoked to counter the balance". It "brings beats and strings together in a final crescendo that also manages to incorporate a little jungle".{{cite book |last=Taylor|first=Steve|date=27 September 2006|title=The A to X of Alternative Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPOsu8JOHO8C&pg=PA37|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|page=37|isbn=978-0-8264-8217-4}}

{{See also|Swan dress of Björk}}

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The cover art, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in Los Angeles, California, is a black and white photograph of Björk lying down on the patterned ground next to a swimming pool, covering her eyes from the sun and wearing the Marjan Pejoski swan dress that she wore at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001,{{refn|group=nb|Björk wrote the song "I've Seen It All" for Dancer in the Dark and was nominated for Best Original Song}} which caused a media frenzy and was widely criticised.{{cite book |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dH2Lb_YhIhAC&pg=PA24 |title=All about Oscar: the history and politics of the Academy Awards |date=14 January 2003 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-8264-1452-6 |page=24 |access-date=15 May 2011 |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014629/https://books.google.com/books?id=dH2Lb_YhIhAC&pg=PA24 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mmparis.com/texts/mm_huo.html|title=Seventy-five suns in the sky over France|last1=Obrist|first1=Hans Ulrich|author-link=Hans Ulrich Obrist|year=2004|publisher=M/M Paris|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=24 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424144110/http://www.mmparis.com/texts/mm_huo.html|url-status=live}}

The duo M/M (Paris), known for applying and integrating their work on photographs (so called dessin dans l'image, or "drawings in the picture"),{{cite web |url=http://www.mmparis.com/texts/mm_dahlqvist.html |title=Franska revolutionen är en ren formsak |publisher=M/M Paris |access-date=12 August 2013 |archive-date=22 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822073432/http://www.mmparis.com/texts/mm_dahlqvist.html |url-status=live }} illustrated the cover, featuring a swan and the album's title with feathers. Björk thought swans embodied Vespertine{{'}}s music, describing them as "a white, sort of winter bird" and "very romantic".{{harvnb|Pytlik|2003|page=153}} Vespertine came with a booklet of M/M (Paris) artwork.{{cite AV media notes |title=Vespertine|year=2001|type=LP, Vinyl, CD |publisher=One Little Indian|id=TPLP101}} Michael Hubbard of musicOMH commented, "the spine of the CD is entirely white, while the rest of the sleeve features innovative photography and artwork".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/bjork-vespertine|title=Björk – Vespertine|first=Michael|last=Hubbard|magazine=musicOMH|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117130411/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/bjork-vespertine|url-status=live}} Academic Nicola Dibben has likened Vespertine's artwork and promotion to representations of the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, emphazising the erotic overtones of both.

File:Björk2001.jpg at New York's Radio City Music Hall.]]

Vespertine was released later than One Little Indian Records had intended. Originally, the album's release was scheduled for May, but by March it had been put back to August, so as to enable Björk to work on the album's promotion.{{cite web|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123041027/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=85%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=85;year=2001#news |title=Vespertine is definitely for all seasons |date=13 March 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2005 }} On 22 May 2001, Björk premiered six songs off the new album in an intimate concert at the Riverside Church in New York City, accompanied by Matmos and Zeena Parkins.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79652/bjork-unveils-six-new-songs-in-new-york|title=Björk Unveils Six New Songs in New York|date=23 May 2001|magazine=Billboard|access-date=13 February 2016|archive-date=27 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927180912/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79652/bjork-unveils-six-new-songs-in-new-york|url-status=live}} Vespertine was released on 27 August,{{cite web

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}} as a double 12" record, CD and compact cassette.{{cite web|url=http://77island.bjork.info/vespertine.htm|title=Vespertine|last1=Fritsch|first1=Oliver|date=2009|website=77ísland|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306182504/http://77island.bjork.info/vespertine.htm|url-status=live}} To coincide with the release of the album, Björk also released an eponymously titled coffee table book, created by her and edited and designed by M/M (Paris).{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105195050/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/book/book1.htm|url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/book/book1.htm|title=Björk: book|publisher=bjork.com|access-date=2 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2010}} A second single, Towards the end of 2001, Vespertine was released as a DVD-Audio.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129110225/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=194%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=194;year=2001#news |title=DVD releases for the US + more |date=8 December 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.acom |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 November 2005 }} The music videos for "Hidden Place", "Pagan Poetry" and "Cocoon" were included in the DVDs Volumen Plus (2002) and Greatest Hits – Volumen 1993–2003 (2002).{{cite AV media notes |title=Volumen Plus|author=Björk|asin=B00009MEFO|type=Region 1 DVD|publisher=One Little Indian Records|year=2002}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Greatest Hits – Volumen 1993–2003|author=Björk|asin=B00009MEFN|type=All Regions DVD|publisher=One Little Indian Records|year=2002}}

Together, Elektra, and New York-based independent marketing firm Drill Team, created the Björk Vespertine Syndicate (BVS), a group of 30-plus websites that had exclusive access to non-album tracks, music videos, and concert/rehearsal footage. To promote the album, Björk appeared in various magazines in mid-2001, including: The Fader, Q, Pulse, URB, USA Today, InStyle, Vibe, Us, Nylon, Index, CMJ New Music Monthly and, Spin.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123041211/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=92%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=92;year=2001#news |title=Björk in the magazines |date=31 March 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }} Magazines Dazed & Confused and Les Inrockuptibles featured a special issue with texts, photographs, and different CDs issued randomly, each with a different song from the album.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129102439/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=118%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=118;year=2001#news |title=Explore Vespertine through a magazine |date=10 July 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |archive-date=29 November 2005 |url-status=dead }} The Times issued a Björk special, featuring videos, music, photographs, and a competition to see Björk perform.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123042512/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=127%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=127;year=2001#news |title=The Times & 'A whole Lot of Things'! |date=11 August 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2005 |url-status=dead }} She also appeared on several TV shows, including: The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, The David Letterman Show and, Charlie Rose, among others.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123043455/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=153%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=153;year=2001#news |title=From the TV to the Monitor! |date=8 September 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2005 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129103824/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=155%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=155;year=2001#news |title=More TV shows on the way |date=10 September 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |archive-date=29 November 2005 |url-status=dead }}

On 6 August 2001, "Hidden Place" was released as the album's lead single, its music video having premiered in July.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123042159/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=116%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=116;year=2001#news |title=It's time to play hide and go seek! |date=2 July 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=13 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }} It was released as two CDs and a DVD, featuring B-sides "Generous Palmstroke", "Foot Soldier", "Mother Heroic" and "Verandi".{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123042135/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=111%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=111;year=2001#news |title=B-sides galore on Hidden Place single |date=27 June 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2005 |url-status=dead }}

The music video for "Hidden Place" was directed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and co-directed by M/M (Paris). It was shot in London over four days in February 2001.{{cite web|url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/vespertine/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802234431/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/vespertine/|title=Vespertine Special|website=bjork.com|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2002|access-date=2 January 2015}} It was originally planned for a song from Selmasongs, but Björk felt the project was more appropriate for Vespertine.{{cite web|url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-11/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330164131/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-11/index.htm|title=GH&FT special : Hidden Place |website=bjork.com|archive-date=30 March 2010|access-date=31 July 2014}} The video consists of close-up shots panning around Björk's face, as fluids flow in and out of her facial orifices. M/M (Paris) said that they "wanted to get as close to her as we could, as we all felt she had never been portrayed as the 'real' and beautiful woman she is.", and that the fluids in the video "visualiz[e] all possible emotions pulsating and circulating in her very busy brain.

File:Pagan Poetry music video.jpg", directed by Nick Knight, features highly stylised images of unsimulated sex, going in hand with Vespertine's central theme of eroticism and intimacy.]]

"Pagan Poetry", was released on 5 November 2001 as two CDs and a DVD, featuring a remix by Matthew Herbert, "Domestica", "Batabid", an Opiate remix of "Aurora", and the music video for "Pagan Poetry".{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123043811/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=163%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=163;year=2001#news |title=Nick Knight does Pagan Poetry |date=2 October 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123044149/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=174%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=174;year=2001#news |title=...it is Pagan Poetry as The Single |date=18 October 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }}

Nick Knight, who had previously shot the cover art for Homogenic, directed the music video for "Pagan Poetry".{{cite magazine|url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/04/nick-knight-on-working-with-kanye-and-bjork.html|title=Nick Knight on Working With Kanye, Björk, and McQueen|first1=Véronique|last1=Hyland|date=22 April 2015|magazine=New York|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029024044/http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/04/nick-knight-on-working-with-kanye-and-bjork.html|url-status=live}} It is about a woman preparing herself for marriage and for her lover, as she sews a wedding dress onto her skin. As she had asked him to make a video about her love life, Knight gave Björk a camcorder and asked her to shoot her own private scenes.{{cite web|url=http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-07/making/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709083618/http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-07/making/index.htm|title=The Light of Love: The Making of the Pagan Poetry Video|website=bjork.com|archive-date=9 July 2009|access-date=31 July 2014}} Shots of skin being pierced were also recorded with this camera; the people being pierced were five women who "were into subculture and piercings" and Björk herself, who only pierced her ear. This first two-thirds of the video contains a great deal of post-production by Peter Marin, who gave the image its abstract watercolor-like effect. The shots of Björk with her Alexander McQueen topless wedding dress were filmed in super 35 format. The main idea behind the music video was: "to do something with the moving image that was a mirror of what was happening musically". Although the music video has been well received by critics, it was highly controversial and banned from MTV in 2001.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/top-10-bjork-music-videos|title=Top 10 Björk Music Videos|last1=Cinquemani|first1=Sal|date=5 July 2013|magazine=Slant Magazine|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120231634/http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/top-10-bjork-music-videos|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/the-15-most-nsfw-music-videos-of-all-time-20110713/bjoerk-pagan-poetry-2-aa-436943|title=The 15 Most NSFW Music Videos of All Time: Björk, 'Pagan Poetry' (2001)|date=13 July 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121111447/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/the-15-most-nsfw-music-videos-of-all-time-20110713/bjoerk-pagan-poetry-2-aa-436943|url-status=live}}

"Cocoon", the album's third single, was released on 11 March 2002. Its music video had premiered in February.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123110650/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=220%3Byear%3D2002 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=220;year=2002#news |title=Cocoon Web Premiere @ bjork.com |date=2 February 2002 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }} Once again, the single was released as two separate CDs and a DVD, with "Pagan Poetry", "Sun in My Mouth" and "Amphibian" as B-sides.{{cite web|url=http://77island.bjork.info/cocoon.htm|title=Cocoon|last1=Fritsch|first1=Oliver|year=2015|website=77ísland|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109165738/http://77island.bjork.info/cocoon.htm|url-status=live}}

The music video for "Cocoon" was directed by Eiko Ishioka and was shot in April 2001 in New York City. One of Björk's most avant-garde music videos, it: "plays with minimalist white for both costume and bleached eyebrows, treating Björk as a geisha whose makeup extends over her entire nude body". Red threads emerge from her nipples and circulate between her breasts and nose, finally enveloping her in a cocoon.{{cite book|last1=Beebe|first1=Roger|last2=Middleton|first2=Jason|date=2007|title=Medium Cool: Music Videos from Soundies to Cellphones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9z8jN56iuO4C&pg=PA10|publisher=Duke University Press|page=107|isbn=978-0-8223-4162-8|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212014629/https://books.google.com/books?id=9z8jN56iuO4C&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} Björk actually wore a very close-fitting body suit.{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/photos/bjork-at-50--the-iconic-artist-s-life-and-career-in-pictures/393330#/photo/15|title=Bjork at 50 – The Iconic Artist's Life And Career in Pictures|date=19 November 2015|work=NME|access-date=4 May 2016|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308220949/http://www.nme.com/photos/bjork-at-50--the-iconic-artist-s-life-and-career-in-pictures/393330#/photo/15|url-status=live}} Although not as controversial as the "Pagan Poetry" music video, it was still banned from MTV.{{cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/17933/1/top-ten-flesh-flashing-videos|title=Top ten flesh-flashing videos|last1=Mandle|first1=Chris|year=2013|work=Dazed|access-date=4 May 2016|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118203727/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/17933/1/top-ten-flesh-flashing-videos|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Vespertine world tour}}

File:Haeckel Hexacoralla.jpg, were used as a backdrop during the tour.]]

In early August 2001, Björk confirmed the first set of dates for the Vespertine world tour which would take place at opera houses, theatres, and small venues, with favourable acoustics for the concerts.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78878/bjork-world-tour-to-feature-54-piece-orchestra|title=Björk World Tour to Feature 54-Piece Orchestra|date=3 August 2001|magazine=Billboard|access-date=6 May 2016|archive-date=3 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803114944/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78878/bjork-world-tour-to-feature-54-piece-orchestra|url-status=live}} She enlisted Matmos, Zeena Parkins, a choir of Inuit girls from Greenland, and conductor Simon Lee; Visually, fauna illustrations by Ernst Haeckel were used as a backdrop during the tour.{{cite AV media |people=Björk|date=16 March 2010|title=Live at Royal Opera House |type=DVD|location=United States|publisher=One Little Indian|asin=B00009MEFM}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/08/bjork-review-vulnicura-carnegie-hall-moma|title=Björk review – a nakedly personal show|last1=Farago|first1=Jason|date=8 March 2015|work=The Guardian|quote=...far inferior to the Ernst Haeckel fauna illustrations from her Vespertine tour.|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118050424/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/08/bjork-review-vulnicura-carnegie-hall-moma|url-status=live}}

The tour opened at the Grand Rex in Paris on 18 August. While in Paris, she held a press conference to discuss the album but gave no individual interviews saying that: "she'd rather do music than talk about it."{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123042850/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=136%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=136;year=2001#news |title=Press conference held yesterday |date=23 August 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2005 |url-status=dead }} While in France she also received the National Order of Merit at the Ministry of National Education in Paris.{{cite web|last=Bychawski|first=Adam|url=http://www.nme.com/news/bjork/9095|title=Björk Honoured by French Government|date=24 August 2001|work=NME|access-date=13 February 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234313/http://www.nme.com/news/bjork/9095|url-status=live}} Another press conference was held in Barcelona on 3 November 2001 while touring in Spain.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123044301/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=182%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=182;year=2001#news |title=Press conference in Spain today |date=4 November 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2005 |url-status=dead }}

A 16 December 2001 performance at the Royal Opera House in London was released as the DVD Live at Royal Opera House in 2002. A DVD release featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the tour, titled Minuscule, was released at the end of 2003. Vespertine Live, a live album consisting of songs recorded during the Vespertine world tour, was included in the 2003 box set Live Box; it also includes a live version of "All Is Full of Love", a song from Homogenic and "Overture" from Selmasongs.{{cite AV media notes |title=Live Box|year=2003|type=Box set|publisher=One Little Indian|id=5016958055721}}

Vespertine debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 75,000 units in its first week, becoming her career peak in sales.{{Cite magazine |last=Hasty |first=Katie |date=2007-05-16 |title=Buble Sidesteps Bone Thugs To Claim No. 1 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/buble-sidesteps-bone-thugs-to-claim-no-1-1052095/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} It also debuted upon the top spot on the Top Electronic Albums chart, staying there for 3 weeks.{{Cite magazine |title=Björk {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bjork/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} One Little Indian head Derek Birket declaring that the album had sold over 1.2 million copies in Europe alone.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123043430/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=152%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=152;year=2001#news |title=Chit-chatting on AOL + more |date=8 September 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }} That month, the album also became number one on the album charts in Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, France, Norway,{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123043518/http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=154%3Byear%3D2001 |url=http://www.bjork.com/grapewire/?id=154;year=2001#news |title=Vespertine is number one! |date=8 September 2001 |work=Grapewire |publisher=bjork.com |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }} and the European Top 100 Albums chart. In addition, Vespertine charted in the top 10 of Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Australia. The album has been certified Gold in Canada, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Lead single "Hidden Place" reached the top spot of the singles charts in Spain,{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|language=es|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Madrid|isbn=978-84-8048-639-2}} also charting in the top 40 in the United Kingdom,{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15515/bjork/ |title=Bjork {{!}} full Official Chart History |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221022154/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15515/bjork/ |url-status=live }} Canada,{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/björk-mn0000769444/awards |title=Björk {{!}} Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526023214/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bj%C3%B6rk-mn0000769444/awards |archive-date=26 May 2015}} Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium and France.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/12df/Bjoerk-Hidden-Place|title=Björk – Hidden Place|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=6 May 2016|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114144028/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/12df/Bjoerk-Hidden-Place|url-status=live}} Following release "Pagan Poetry" also performed well in Spain, while entering the French chart at number 49 and the UK chart at number 38.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/8751/Bjoerk-Pagan-Poetry|title=Björk – Pagan Poetry|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=6 May 2016|archive-date=3 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503080540/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/8751/Bjoerk-Pagan-Poetry|url-status=live}} "Cocoon" performed more poorly, charting at number 61 in France and number 35 in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1289c/Bjoerk-Cocoon|title=Björk – Cocoon|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=6 May 2016|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112072632/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1289c/Bjoerk-Cocoon|url-status=live}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 88/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/vespertine/bjork |title=Reviews for Vespertine by Björk |website=Metacritic |access-date=7 October 2011 |archive-date=3 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103203627/https://www.metacritic.com/music/vespertine/bjork |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vespertine-mw0000586936 |title=Vespertine – Björk |website=AllMusic |access-date=7 October 2011 |last=Phares |first=Heather |archive-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229231300/http://www.allmusic.com/album/vespertine-mw0000586936 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = B+{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2001/08/20/vespertine |title=Vespertine |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=20 August 2001 |access-date=7 October 2011 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620053117/http://ew.com/article/2001/08/20/vespertine/ |archive-date=20 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/aug/24/shopping.artsfeatures1 |title=An evening of magic |work=The Guardian |date=24 August 2001 |access-date=13 December 2015 |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182529/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/aug/24/shopping.artsfeatures1 |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = Los Angeles Times

| rev4score = {{rating|4|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-26-ca-38376-story.html |title=Björk 'Vespertine' Elektra |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 August 2001 |access-date=13 December 2015 |last=Baltin |first=Steve |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307192141/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/26/entertainment/ca-38376 |url-status=live }}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/bjork/5925 |title=Bjork: Vespertine |work=NME |date=25 August 2001 |access-date=29 September 2011 |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081927/http://www.nme.com/reviews/bjork/5925 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 7.2/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/727-vespertine/ |title=Björk: Vespertine |work=Pitchfork |date=31 August 2001 |access-date=13 December 2015 |last=Schreiber |first=Ryan |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306024402/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/727-vespertine/ |url-status=live }}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Björk: Vespertine |magazine=Q |issue=181 |date=September 2001 |page=109}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/vespertine-20010820 |title=Vespertine |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 August 2001 |access-date=28 April 2012 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |archive-date=23 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123193518/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/vespertine-20010820 |url-status=live }}

| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev9score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Björk |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wolk |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |edition=4th |year=2004 |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/73 73–74]|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide }}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = A−{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv302-02.php |title=Consumer Guide: 2001 Gets Better |work=The Village Voice |date=12 March 2002 |access-date=13 December 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182414/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv302-02.php |url-status=live }}

}}

Upon release, Vespertine received universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 88, based on 28 reviews. Various writers including David Fricke and Simon Reynolds named Vespertine Björk's best album to date.{{cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/bjork-vespertine/ |title=Björk: Vespertine |work=PopMatters |date=28 August 2001 |access-date=5 March 2016 |last=Widder |first=Katy |archive-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704233201/http://www.popmatters.com/review/bjork-vespertine/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |first=Simon |last=Reynolds |title=Bjork |magazine=Uncut|date=October 2001}} The album received some praise for its themes of intimacy and introversion, with Anthony Carew from About.com writing: "What makes Vespertine even more intriguing is the way that it marries its musical ambitions to its thematic emotions… And what makes it great… is the purity and intimacy of its feelings."{{cite web |url=http://altmusic.about.com/od/2000s/fr/bjork.htm |title=Bjork Vespertine – Review of Bjork's Definitive Alternative Album Vespertine |website=About.com |date=27 August 2001 |access-date=22 August 2012 |archive-date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807124321/http://altmusic.about.com/od/2000s/fr/bjork.htm |url-status=dead }} Fricke and musicOMH's Michael Hubbard have both noted that the singer had shown a more mature side of her. The A.V. Club{{'}}s Keith Phipps found it to be: "an album both timeless and of the moment, an avant-garde electronic-pop exploration of classic themes".{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/bjoumlrk-emvespertineem-18401 |title=Björk: Vespertine |work=The A.V. Club |date=19 April 2002 |access-date=7 July 2011 |last=Phipps |first=Keith |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070049/http://www.avclub.com/review/bjoumlrk-emvespertineem-18401 |url-status=live }} In a later review for The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Douglas Wolk described the album as "a banquet in the hall of Björk's personal erotics" and stated that "it's not the stuff of radio hits, but the music is spectacular".

An enthusiastic review came from The Wire, which felt that: "In the end, Vespertine commits its magic by daring to go places more obvious and more human than one would have ever expected." Calling it "one of the most impressive and cohesive" albums of the year, Tiny Mix Tapes found Vespertine to be Björk's most effective use of the studio as an instrument.{{cite web |url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/bj%C3%B6rk-vespertine |title=Björk – Vespertine |work=Tiny Mix Tapes |date=1 September 2001 |access-date=4 May 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307105709/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/bj%C3%B6rk-vespertine |url-status=live }} Chris Smith of Stylus Magazine praised the album for its nuance and delicacy, describing its sonic palette as "a breath of fresh air."{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/bjrk/vespertine.htm |title=Björk – Vespertine |work=Stylus Magazine |date=1 September 2003 |access-date=4 May 2016 |last=Smith |first=Chris |archive-date=10 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510115831/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/bjrk/vespertine.htm |url-status=dead }} Additionally, Vespertine was thought to have challenged gender roles in rock music and in sexuality.

Q also praised the album, stating that it "quietly proves that cutting-edge production and human contact aren't mutually exclusive." American music journalist Robert Christgau enjoyed the album's central theme of sex and wrote: "when she gets all soprano on your ass you could accuse her of spirituality". A more lukewarm review came from Pitchfork{{'}}s Ryan Schreiber, who felt that: "while undeniably beautiful, Vespertine fails to give electronic music the forward push it received on Björk's preceding albums". David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said "her lyrics occasionally dive into the deep end" and "her voice is at times stiff", although he also wrote "when it all comes together, [...] Björk and her electronica collaborators create moving interplanetary chorals". Almost Cool wrote: "if there's one question to be raised with the album, it's that it's all simply so lush and nice that on some levels it fails to excite".{{cite web|url=http://www.almostcool.org/mr/143/|title=Björk – Vespertine|website=Almost Cool|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025854/http://www.almostcool.org/mr/143/|url-status=dead}}

In a 2015 interview with The Pitchfork Review, Björk said that her work on Vespertine was not fully acknowledged by press,{{cite web |last1=Wickman |first1=Forrest |date=22 January 2015 |title=It's Not Just Björk: Women Are Tired of Not Getting Credit for Their Own Music |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/01/21/bjork_pitchfork_interview_she_s_tired_of_not_getting_credit_for_her_music.html |access-date=3 March 2016 |work=Slate |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020211225/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/01/21/bjork_pitchfork_interview_she_s_tired_of_not_getting_credit_for_her_music.html |url-status=live }} she further added, "Matmos came in the last two weeks and added percussion on top of the songs, but they didn't do any of the main parts, and they are credited everywhere as having done the whole album.".

In 2002, Vespertine was nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize, though the award went to In Search of... by N.E.R.D.{{cite web|access-date=8 January 2010 |url=http://www.shortlistofmusic.com/ |title=(shôrt–lĭst) |first=Greg |last=Spotts |website=Short List |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127054621/http://www.shortlistofmusic.com/ |archive-date=27 January 2010 }} The same year, the album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Album, losing to Coldplay's Parachutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451914/20020124/creed.jhtml|title=Got Charts? Creed, Eminem, No Doubt, 'NSYNC Have Something in Common|access-date=29 April 2010|date=24 January 2002|publisher=MTV News|first=David|last=Basham|archive-date=3 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403203135/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451914/20020124/creed.jhtml|url-status=dead}} In addition, Björk was nominated for Best International Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/news/international-female-nominations-2016|title=International Female Solo Artist Nominations Announced|publisher=Brit Awards|access-date=6 May 2016|archive-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520121742/http://www.brits.co.uk/news/international-female-nominations-2016|url-status=live}} and Best International Female Artist at the Italian Music Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.dirittodautore.it/italian-music-awards-annunciate-le-nomination/ |website=Dirittodautore.it |access-date=29 May 2014 |title=Italian Music Awards, annunciate le nomination |date=26 October 2001 |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529150116/http://www.dirittodautore.it/italian-music-awards-annunciate-le-nomination/ |archive-date=29 May 2014}} while Vespertine was nominated for Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://iston.is/fyrri-verdlaunahafar/|language=is|title=Fyrri verðlaunahafar|access-date=17 July 2014|work=Íslensku Tónlistarverðlaunin|archive-date=11 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211112844/http://iston.is/fyrri-verdlaunahafar/|url-status=dead}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Hidden Place

| writer1 = Björk

| extra1 = Björk

| length1 = 5:28

| title2 = Cocoon

| writer2 = {{hlist|Björk|Thomas Knak}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Björk|Knak}}

| length2 = 4:28

| title3 = It's Not Up to You

| writer3 = Björk

| extra3 = Björk

| length3 = 5:08

| title4 = Undo

| writer4 = {{hlist|Björk|Knak}}

| extra4 = Björk

| length4 = 5:38

| title5 = Pagan Poetry

| writer5 = Björk

| extra5 = {{hlist|Björk|Marius de Vries{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 5:14

| title6 = Frosti

| writer6 = Björk

| extra6 = Björk

| length6 = 1:41

| title7 = Aurora

| writer7 = Björk

| extra7 = Björk

| length7 = 4:39

| title8 = An Echo a Stain

| writer8 = {{hlist|Björk|Guy Sigsworth}}

| extra8 = Björk

| length8 = 4:04

| title9 = Sun in My Mouth

| writer9 = {{hlist|Björk|Sigsworth}}

| extra9 = Björk

| length9 = 2:40

| title10 = Heirloom

| writer10 = {{hlist|Björk|Martin Console}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Björk|Console}}

| length10 = 5:12

| title11 = Harm of Will

| writer11 = {{hlist|Björk|Sigsworth|Harmony Korine}}

| extra11 = Björk

| length11 = 4:36

| title12 = Unison

| writer12 = Björk

| extra12 = Björk

| length12 = 6:45

| total_length = 55:39

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| title13 = Generous Palmstroke

| writer13 = {{hlist|Björk|Zeena Parkins}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Björk|de Vries}}

| length13 = 4:08

| total_length = 59:37

}}

Notes[https://www.whosampled.com/Bj%C3%B6rk/samples/?ob=0 "Tracks sampled by Björk"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810224914/https://www.whosampled.com/Bj%C3%B6rk/samples/?ob=0 |date=10 August 2023 }}. WhoSampled. Retrieved Aug 8 2023.

• "Hidden Place" samples "Transfigured Night, Op. 4" (1899) by Arnold Schoenberg.
• "Undo" heavily samples "1% in 2/3 Speed" (1999) by Opiate.
• "Sun In My Mouth" contains lyrics from "Impressions" by E. E. Cummings from Complete Poems: 1910–1962.
• "Heirloom" is based upon "Crabcraft" by Console.
• "Unison" contains a sample of "Aero Deck" by Oval from Systemisch.
• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Vespertine.

Musicians

{{div col}}

• Jake Davies – programming {{small|(1, 5)}}, beat programming {{small|(7)}}
• Damian Taylor – programming {{small|(1, 12)}}, beat programming {{small|(7, 8)}}
• Guy Sigsworth – programming {{small|(1, 12)}}, choir arrangement {{small|(1, 8, 12)}}, clavichord {{small|(3)}}, clavichord arrangement {{small|(3)}}, beat programming {{small|(8)}}, celeste {{small|(8, 9, 11)}}, celeste arrangement {{small|(9, 11)}}
• Matthew Herbert – programming {{small|(1, 12)}}
• Matmos – programming {{small|(1, 12)}}, beat programming {{small|(7, 8)}}
• Björk – bassline {{small|(1, 5, 7, 9)}}, choir arrangement {{small|(1, 3, 4)}}, harp arrangement {{small|(3, 7, 12)}}, programming {{small|(5, 12)}}, music box arrangement {{small|(5–7)}}, beat programming {{small|(7, 9)}}, string arrangement {{small|(11)}}
• Vince Mendoza – choir arrangement {{small|(1, 3, 8, 11)}}, orchestration {{small|(1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12)}}, string arrangement {{small|(3, 4, 8, 9, 12)}}
• Thomas Knak – programming {{small|(2, 4)}}
• Valgeir Sigurðsson – beat programming {{small|(3, 9)}}, programming {{small|(12)}}
• Zeena Parkins – harp arrangement {{small|(3–5, 8, 9, 12)}}, harp {{small|(3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12)}}
• Caryl Thomas – harp {{small|(3)}}
• Jack Perron – adaptation to music box {{small|(5–7)}}
• Marius de Vries – additional programming {{small|(7)}}, beat programming {{small|(8)}}
• Martin Console – programming {{small|(10)}}

{{div col end}}

Technical

{{div col}}

• Jake Davies – Pro Tools recording engineer {{small|(1, 3, 7, 12)}}; Pro Tools {{small|(4)}}, recording engineer {{small|(4, 8)}}, vocals recording {{small|(10)}}
• Damian Taylor – Pro Tools recording engineer {{small|(1)}}
• Valgeir Sigurðsson – Pro Tools recording engineer {{small|(3, 12)}}, Pro Tools {{small|(4)}}, recording engineer {{small|(4, 8, 9, 11)}}
• Leigh Jamieson – Pro Tools recording engineer {{small|(3)}}
• Jan "Stan" Kybert – Pro Tools {{small|(4)}}
• Eric Gosh – music box engineering
• Juan Garcia – assistant engineer {{small|(Magic Shop)}}
• Damon Idins – assistant engineer {{small|(Astoria)}}
• Eric & Rory – assistant engineers {{small|(Avatar)}}
• Aarron Franz – assistant engineer {{small|(Sear Sound)}}
• Adrian Dawson – 2nd assistant engineer {{small|(Sear Sound)}}
• Ricardo Gary Walker – assistant
• Jason Spears – assistant
• Aaron – assistant
• Matt Fields – assistant
• Daniel Porter – assistant
• David Treahearn – assistant
• Björk – vocal editing {{small|(4, 11)}}
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing {{small|(all tracks)}}

{{div col end}}

Artwork

{{div col}}

• Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin – sleeve design
• M/M Paris – sleeve design

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Vespertine}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Vespertine|artist=Björk|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|date=26 October 2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Vespertine|artist=Björk|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|date=13 November 2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=ヴェスパタイン|artist=ビョーク|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|certmonth=8|salesamount=124,550|salesref={{cite book |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |location=Roppongi, Tokyo |publisher=Oricon Charts |year=2006 |isbn=978-4-87131-077-2}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|nocert=true|salesamount=10,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://timarit.is/page/3430502?iabr=on#page/n64/mode/2up/search/vespertine%20eintökum|work=Morgunblaðið|title=Nordmenn saka Björk um okur|language=is|date=4 January 2002|page=64|via=Timarit.is|access-date=19 May 2023|archive-date=29 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529162517/https://timarit.is/page/3430502?iabr=on#page/n64/mode/2up/search/vespertine%20eintökum|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|title=Vespertine|artist=Bjork |type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|certref={{cite news | url = http://www.elmundo.es/anuario/2001/sec/dyt/637.htm | newspaper = El Mundo | language = es | access-date = 2 June 2018 | title = Discos de platino y oro 2000 | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212019/http://www.elmundo.es/anuario/2001/sec/dyt/637.htm | url-status = live }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=Vespertine|artist=Björk|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Vespertine|artist=Björk|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2013|id=7982-1526-2|date=22 July 2013|access-date=11 July 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=yes|salesamount=402,000|salesref={{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052193/bjorks-new-blend | title=Bjork's New Blend | magazine=Billboard | date=10 May 2007 | access-date=17 December 2016 | archive-date=28 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328001654/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052193/bjorks-new-blend | url-status=live }}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Vespertine|artist=Björk|type=album|nocert=true|relyear=2001|salesamount=1,200,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

• List of songs recorded by Björk
• List of Billboard number-one electronic albums of 2001
• List of number-one albums of 2001 (Spain)

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book

| last1 = Brackett

| first1 = Nathan

| last2 = Hoard

| first2 = Christian David

| title = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide

| publisher = Simon & Schuster

| year = 2004

| isbn = 978-0-7432-0169-8

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC

}}

• {{cite book

| last1 = Gittins

| first1 = Ian

| last2 = Hoard

| first2 = Christian David

| title = Björk

| publisher = Giunti Editore

| language = it

| year = 2004

| isbn = 9788809034969

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UJRzqQKrE8oC

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Pytlik

| first = Mark

| title = Björk: Wow and Flutter

| publisher = ECW Press

| year = 2003

| isbn = 978-1-55022-556-3

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bill263dqDAC

}}

• {{discogs master| master= 37082| name= Vespertine}}

{{Bjork}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2001 albums

Category:Albums produced by Björk

Category:Albums produced by Marius de Vries

Category:Albums recorded at Olympic Sound Studios

Category:Ambient albums by Icelandic artists

Category:Björk albums

Category:Electronica albums by Icelandic artists

Category:Folk albums by Icelandic artists

Category:Folktronica albums

Category:Glitch (music) albums

Category:One Little Independent Records albums