Björk wanted to make an album with an intimate, domestic sound, deviating from the sonority of her previous studio album "Homogenic" (1997). With the rising popularity of Napster and music downloads, she decided to use instruments whose sounds would not be compromised when downloaded and played on a computer, including the harp, the celesta, clavichord, strings, and custom music boxes. Assisted by the duo Matmos, Björk created "microbeats" from various household sounds, such as that of shuffling cards and ice being cracked. Lyrically, the album revolves around sex and love – sometimes explicitly – inspired by her at the time new relationship with Matthew Barney; other lyrical sources include a poem by E. E. Cummings, Sarah Kane's play "Crave", and dialogues written by Harmony Korine. "Björk", a self-titled coffee table book containing photographs of the artist throughout her career, was released simultaneously with the album.