Biophilia

An extended ode to the natural world, Biophilia buzzes with bright, pure tones: “Moon” sets Björk’s slowly swelling harmonies against tranquil harp, and “Crystalline” applies the same stripped-down aesthetic to chimes and crisp, staccato drums. “Dark Matter” quivers with rich, resonant pipe organ, while “Mutual Core” explodes a church-like hush into bold, distorted percussion, and “Nattura” features shuddering, heavy-metal drumming by Lightning Bolt’s Brian Chippendale. Great, cosmic forces hold sway: Rarely has Björk gotten so close to the essence of things in her music.