"Atopos" is a song by Icelandic musician Björk featuring Kasimyn of Indonesian duo Gabber Modus Operandi, released on 6 September 2022 as the lead single from Björk's tenth studio album Fossora. The song was co-written by Björk and Kasimyn, and premiered on BBC Radio 6 Music.[2]

"Atopos"
The artist in a long, bright green gown that resembles grass, surrounded by floating plants on a black background.
Single by Björk featuring Kasimyn
from the album Fossora
Released6 September 2022 (2022-09-06)
Genre
Length
  • 4:46 (album version)
  • 3:48 (video version)
LabelOne Little Independent
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Björk
Björk singles chronology
"Features Creatures"
(2019)
"Atopos"
(2022)
"Ovule"
(2022)
Music video
"Atopos" on YouTube

Background

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Björk announced the song's release date on her social media on 5 September 2022, calling it "like Fossora's passport" and describing it as "Sonically a heavy bottom-ended bass world. We have 6 bass clarinets, punchy sub drilling, nesting and digging us into the ground."[2]

The song's title comes from the Greek word for "strange, or out of place"[3] and with lyrics about "hope" and "collective optimism", takes inspiration from French theorist Roland Barthes' interpretation of the concept of atopy.[4]

Critical reception

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Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian described the song as "an apocalyptic almost-dance track which pairs experimental techno with pulsing clarinets".[5] Eric Torres of Pitchfork called it a "strange, ecstatic balance of honking bass clarinets, cooing background vocals, and forceful beats" from Kasimyn with the "kinetic looseness of 2007's Volta" and a "vertigo-inducing percussive breakdown".[4]

Music video

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The music video was also released on 6 September 2022, and was directed by Viðar Logi.[2] Madison Bloom and Jazz Monroe of Pitchfork described the video as a "party at a mushoom rave" in a "fungal underworld, where a masked Björk, a bass clarinet sextet, and Gabber Modus Operandi's DJ Kasimyn gear up for a rave showdown".[6]

Track listings

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Digital download[7]

  1. Atopos – 4:46

Digital download - Sideproject Remix[8]

  1. Atopos (Sideproject Remix) – 3:39

References

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  1. ^ NPR Staff (December 15, 2022). "The 100 Best Songs of 2022". NPR. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Kenneally, Cerys (6 September 2022). "Björk releases first Fossora single 'Atopos'". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ^ Paul, Larisha (6 September 2022). "Björk Throws a Cavernous Connection-Seeking Rave in 'Atopos' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b Torres, Eric (6 September 2022). "Björk: "Atopos" Track Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  5. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (6 September 2022). "Björk: Atopos review – one of the most dramatic left turns of her career". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022. The thrilling first single from the singer's tenth album is an apocalyptic almost-dance track which pairs experimental techno with pulsing clarinets
  6. ^ Bloom, Madison; Monroe, Jazz (6 September 2022). "Björk Parties at a Mushroom Rave in Video for New Song "Atopos": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ^ Atopos, 2022-09-06, retrieved 2022-12-09
  8. ^ Atopos (sideproject Remix), 2022-12-09, retrieved 2022-12-09