Disclaimer: this rating is totally subjective; if you disagree with me—I welcome you to the comments to express your point of view, as it equally matters

Let’s start! Here Björk appears in the form of some kind of a huge ocean mollusk, the gorgeous underwater queen. She looks very confident and content; in her right hand she holds a flute demonstrating its six holes, which amazingly resonate with other two ones in her throat—serving as gills for her and another whimsical musical instrument for us. That strong attention to the flute is not accidental: Björk shows us what is the key to the record, what—along with dolphin and orca’s sounds—sets the main tone of it, and what you must follow through to space out and enjoy the music… Returning to the cover itself, there are several important details emphasizing that she’s exploring themes of being a woman and a mother. First, an interesting organ resembling woman’s genitalia—Björk doesn’t hide it and displays it right on her forehead, making a provocative gesture. Second, an embryo (it looks quite human-like or at least mammal-like, but i’m not a biologist) which is hiding in her collar. But what sadly breaks the vibe of the cover for me is Björk’ hairstyle. It strongly associates with goth/emo subculture; i would imagine a tempting vamp lady having it, but not a sea empress. Moreover, it doesn’t fit the sensual and ethereal ambient tones of the album.

In summary, this cover shows good attention to detail and gives a peek of what to expect from the music. But unfortunately it doesn’t work for me as a single comprehensive piece of art. Score: 4/10