SPITTING Image managed to find 101 uses for Bjork (an alternative police siren being about the most flattering), but last night's crowd at the Point was happy enough for her to perform just one to get them dancing.
Possibly Iceland's most famous export, the diminutive singer drew a crowd as eclectic as her own very versatile repertoire. Since her split in 1992 with cult Icelandic band The Sugarcubes, Bjork has produced two vastly acclaimed albums, Debut and Post, with the latter involving a variety of dance collaborations with acts such as Tricky and 808 State.
In an unusual billing, she acted as warm up for her own support act, Underworld. Most famous for their contribution to the Trainspotting soundtrack, Underworld have a raw jungle dance sound, and the crowd was certainly dressed to dance. The Point hasn't seen this much striped Lycra, gold satin and Adidas gear since The Prodigy in the new year here.
A surprisingly young crowd thronged the venue, many of whom seemed to have been born well after the year Bjork produced her first album, in 1977. She was all of 11 at the time. But Ciara McCarthy (17), from Newry wasn't there to hear old Sugarcubes numbers: "I knew she used to be in a band but I think most people came to hear her play all her dance stuff. Violently Happy is one of the best dance songs ever, it doesn't matter when you hear it, it gets you going."
This was a concert marked with a rare energy - from Big Time Sensuality onwards, the crowd responded, Lycra bound (even the men), in kind. For one night at least, the Point became the best legal rave this side of Iceland.