Black Lake (song)
"Black Lake" is a song by Icelandic musician Björk. It appears on her eighth studio album Vulnicura (2015). At ten minutes and eight seconds, it is the longest song to appear on one of her studio albums.
"Black Lake" | |
---|---|
Song by Björk | |
from the album Vulnicura | |
Released | 20 January 2015 |
Genre | |
Length | 10:08 |
Label | One Little Indian |
Songwriter(s) | Björk |
Producer(s) |
Like many tracks on Vulnicura, "Black Lake" prominently features string arrangements juxtaposed with electronic beats. Lyrically, the song takes inspiration from the dissolution of Björk's relationship with contemporary artist Matthew Barney.[1] The liner notes of Vulnicura indicate the song takes place two months after the end of the relationship.[2]
Music video
A music video was made for "Black Lake", directed by Andrew Thomas Huang.[3] Commissioned by the Museum of Modern Art, the video was filmed in Iceland and depicts Björk singing the song in the wilderness, by a volcano.[4] After appearing exclusively at its respective MoMA exhibit, the video later received a wider release on YouTube.[5]
Reception
"Black Lake" received highly positive reviews, with many critics deeming it a highlight of Vulnicura. Pitchfork considered the song to be the centerpiece of the album, calling it a "masterwork of balancing elements".[1] The Line of Best Fit highlighted the song's "brooding tension" and praised the song for "unleashing all five stages of grief in near unison".[6]
References
- St. Asaph, Katherine (23 January 2015). "Björk – Vulnicura". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- Björk (20 January 2015). Vulnicura (Liner notes).
- Blistein, Jon (9 June 2015). "Björk Suffers Torment, Finds Renewal in 'Black Lake' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- Armstrong, Annie (22 February 2016). "Björk Takes You Behind the Scenes of 'Black Lake'". Vice. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- Gordon, Jeremy (9 June 2015). "Björk Shares Intense, 10-Minute "Black Lake" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- Ritacco, Robby (30 January 2015). "Björk – Vulnicura". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 March 2023.