Country Creatures

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Country Creatures
EP by
Björk, Fever Ray and the Knife
Released1 November 2019 (2019-11-01)
GenreIndustrial
Length11:46
LabelOne Little Indian
Producer
Björk chronology
Utopia
(2017) 		Country Creatures
(2019) 		Fossora
(2022)
Fever Ray chronology
Live at Troxy
(2019) 		Country Creatures
(2019) 		Plunge Remix
(2019)
The Knife chronology
Stay Out Here / Ready to Lose (Remixes)
(2013) 		Country Creatures
(2019)
Singles from Country Creatures
  1. "Features Creatures (Fever Ray Remix)"
    Released: 6 September 2019
  2. "Features Creatures (The Knife Remix)"
    Released: 6 September 2019
  3. "This Country Makes It Hard to Fuck (Björk Remix)"
    Released: 6 September 2019
Alternative cover

Country Creatures is a collaborative remix extended play (EP) by Icelandic musician Björk; Swedish musician Karin Dreijer under their alias Fever Ray; and electronic music duo the Knife, consisting of Dreijer and their brother, DJ and record producer Olof Dreijer. The three remixes were initially released digitally as individual singles on 6 September 2019[1] followed by a limited edition 12" vinyl by One Little Indian Records released on 1 November 2019.

Background[edit]

Country Creatures takes its title from the two songs remixed in the collection: "This Country" from Fever Ray's album Plunge, and "Features Creatures" from Björk's Utopia, both released in 2017; one cover art of the EP combines those of both albums. In a social media post announcing the collab, Björk revealed that she chose the Fever Ray track she would remix and vice versa.[2]

On 5 September 2019, Fever Ray shared a photo on their Instagram page featuring them and Björk with a countdown clock. At midnight, three separate remix singles were released, one a remix of Fever Ray's "This Country" done by Björk and two remixes of "Features Creatures", one by Fever Ray and the other by the Knife.[3] Despite the fact that the Knife officially disbanded in 2014, Stereogum notes that the name is sometimes still used on remixes.[4] Björk adds her own vocals to Fever Ray's track, and her remix is titled "This Country Makes It Hard to Fuck".[5]

It was also announced that the three remixes would be collected in a limited edition vinyl called Country Creatures, released by Björk's label One Little Indian on 1 November 2019.[6]

Critical reception[edit]

Consequence of Sound noted Björk's reworking of Fever Ray's "This Country", calling it "a disturbing, dissonant industrial collage" and praised their newly added vocals as "haunting". It described Fever Ray's "Features Creatures" remix as "moody atmospherics" and noted the Knife's more dance-oriented take on the track, and in comparing the two felt that they offered "a fascinating look at [Karin Dreijer's] different musical palettes".[7]

Track listing[edit]

Country Creatures UK 12" vinyl
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."This Country Makes It Hard to Fuck" (Björk Remix)
3:03
2."Features Creatures" (Fever Ray Remix)
  • Björk
  • Sarah Hopkins
Björk4:08
3."Features Creatures" (The Knife Remix)
  • Björk
  • Hopkins
Björk4:37
Total length:11:48

Versions[edit]

"Features Creatures"

  • Album version (CD/digital) – 4:50
  • Album version (vinyl) – 4:41
  • Fever Ray Remix – 4:07
  • The Knife Remix – 4:36

"This Country"

  • Album version – 3:12
  • Björk Remix – 3:02

Release history[edit]

Release history and formats for Country Creatures
Region Title Date Label Format
Various "This Country" (Björk Remix) 6 September 2019 Rabid Records Digital download
"Features Creatures" (Fever Ray Remix) One Little Indian
"Features Creatures" (The Knife Remix)
Country Creatures 1 November 2019 12" vinyl

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hussey, Allison; Monroe, Jazz (September 6, 2019). "Björk, Fever Ray, and the Knife Remix Each Other on New Songs: Listen". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  2. ^ "me and karin decided to remix swap". Facebook. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. ^ Gotrich, Lars (September 6, 2019). "Hear Fever Ray And Björk Swap Remixes". Npr.org. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  4. ^ Rettig, James (September 6, 2019). "Björk, Fever Ray, The Knife Remix Each Other". Stereogum.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. ^ Bruce-Jones, Henry (September 6, 2019). "Björk and Fever Ray swap remixes, share Björk's remix of 'This Country'". Factmag.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. ^ Richards, Will (7 September 2019). "Listen to Björk, Fever Ray and The Knife remix each other". Nme.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. ^ Kaye, Ben (6 September 2019). "Björk, The Knife, and Fever Ray remix each other's songs on new 12-inch: Stream". Consequence.net. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
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