Atopos (song)

"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"
Single by Björk featuring Kasimyn
from the album Fossora
Released	6 September 2022 (2022-09-06)
Genre	Experimental techno dembow[1]
Length	4:46 (album version) 3:48 (video version)
Label	One Little Independent
Songwriter(s)	Björk Kasimyn
Producer(s)	Björk
Björk singles chronology
"Features Creatures" (2019) "Atopos" (2022) "Ovule" (2022)
Music video
"Atopos" on YouTube

Background

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

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

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

Digital download^[7]

1. Atopos – 4:46

Digital download - Sideproject Remix^[8]

1. Atopos (Sideproject Remix) – 3:39

References

1. NPR Staff (December 15, 2022). "The 100 Best Songs of 2022". NPR. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
2. 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. 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