REVIEW: Björk, "Volta"

Posted on May 4, 2007 by Skittle.
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Björk - Volta Artist: Björk
Album: Volta
Year: 2007
Label: One Little Indian
Score:

I just think she's gorgeous in this picture, I had to use it! I’ve been actively listening to Björk’s music for a few years now, purchasing nearly her entire back catalogue since then. Björk is the type of musician whose sound alters so much from album to album it’s hardly the same artist… yet every disc is great. Her musical compositions are quite amazing, and her lyrics are so deep your head will explode on an average of 3-5 times per album listen. Her new album, Volta, is no different.

One of the first things I heard about the production of the album was that Timbaland was involved. I was taken aback at first, fearing the album would be ten tracks of “SexyBack” variations. Upon further study though I learned that he only worked with her on three tracks… so at least the whole album wouldn’t be the same. And I had already heard one of the songs, “Earth Intruders,” and it wasn’t bad at all. So my initial fear subsided and I sat back and listened…

The album opens with the single “Earth Intruders” which I had already heard. A fun little song resembling something she would have released back on Post, which means she seems to be trying to get away from the serious artsy vibe that her previous few albums were riddled with. Though not a bad thing, the general populous doesn’t like what it can’t understand and the general populous is ironically stupid. So a more upbeat vibe should get more listeners. The track blends into a quirky little ditty sampling ship horns and beachy sounds, which in turn blends into “Wanderlust.” A ten-piece brass section with the assistance of an electronic beat carries the backdrop to Björk’s vocals. A theme throughout the album is that the tracks all blend together with amazing precision and are in a perfect order. Antony Hegarty joins Björk in a duet for the tracks “Dull Flame of Desire” and “My Juvenile.” I had never heard of Antony before this album, he apparently has a band by the name of Antony and the Johnsons. He, like Björk, has a very unconventional but amazing voice and I’m in the process of further researching his music. At the moment, however, Björk is the center of attention.

Björk rawkin' at Coachella '07 The other two tracks co-produced by Timbaland are “Innocence,” another fun track with a (not surprisingly) very hip-hop vibe to it, and “Hope,” a beautiful piece touching on current events and the war and how it’s all just an eternal whirlwind of evil and such. At least that’s what I gathered, I’m notorious for misinterpreting lyrics though. A pipa (that’s a Chinese guitar of sorts that looks like a pear) player by the name of Min Xiao-Fen adds a graceful background to the track “I See Who You Are” as well as the previously mentioned “My Juvenile.” While good compositions, the two tracks “Vertebrae by Vertebrae” and “Pneumonia” really didn’t do much for me. One track sticks out above the rest though, a fast-paced song by the name of “Declare Independence.” It starts off with an encore sampling of the steamboats forerunning “Wanderlust” earlier in the album and then a single distorted rhythm kicks in while Björk repeats a defiant “Declare independence, don’t let them do that to you!” The song builds in momentum as Björk yells inspiring messages invoking thoughts of revolution. If only I wasn’t so lazy. A heavy, pounding drum riff kicks in as the song progresses. By the time the track is nearing it’s end Björk is yelling at the top of her lungs. A very powerful track.

The version of the album that I came into possession of has three remixes as the finishing tracks. I’m not sure if the official release will have these included, or if they’re an iTunes exclusive, or what. I’m generally not fond of remixes, 98% of the time preferring the original track to the butchered version, but I won’t hesitate in fulfilling my duties in telling you my opinion on these tracks! Mark Bell’s remix of “I See Who You Are” seems to be essentially the same thing as the original track, only minus Min Xiao-Fen’s amazing backdrop which has been replaced by a simple drum riff throughout the entire song. Yeah, no… I like Min’s version more. I guess if you have some sort of China-phobia though, you can opt for the remix. Mark Stent also has two remixes, one of “Earth Intruders” and another of “Innocence.” Neither of which really alters the original track enough to really warrant importance. What was the point in including these three tracks again?

Overall, I’m ranking it a four out of five because it is a great album, even by Björk standards, with a very few slow points, a flaw which is nearly impossible to avoid. Definitely go get a copy for yourself when it is released this week, it’ll be worth every penny.