Gling-Gló

Personnel: Bjork Gudmundsdottir (vocals); Trio Gudmundar Ingolfssonar.
Recorded in 1990, while Bjork Gudmundsdottir was still a member of the Icelandic alt-rock band the Sugarcubes, GLING-GLO provided the eccentric vocalist with one of her first moments in the solo spotlight. Solidly backed by Trio Gudmundar Ingolfssonar, Bjork settles into a spare, upbeat set of bop-influenced jazz tunes, allowing her exuberant, dynamic voice to carry each melody. While the buoyant title track could easily serve as the theme song for a sophisticated children's TV show, the following number, "Luktar-Gvendur," settles into a classic lightly swaying jazz groove. The majority of tracks are performed in Icelandic, with Bjork's delivery so charming that listeners will barely notice the language difference. However, those pining for songs in English will be pleased by the disc's final tracks--"Ruby Baby" and "I Can't Help Loving That Man"--two gently swinging takes on standards that directly point to elements of Bjork's later work, most notably her gorgeous reading of "Like Someone in Love" on DEBUT and her brassy take on "It's Oh So Quiet" off of POST.