Voltageous

I was lucky enough to pick up a review copy of Bjork's new album Volta (that's $20 saved!) It's an incredibly, well, Bjorkesque album. From the moment I peeled back the imaginatively designed album cover (it has a peel-off sticker on the cover) I knew I was in for something strange and beguiling. There are times when I swore I was listening to a remix album of Bjork's album Selmasongs (the Dancer in the Dark soundtrack), what with it's mix of operatic horns and gut-wrenching vocals alongside epic hip-hop beats and electronica. It really is like a blend of Selmasongs and Bjork's best album to date, the amazing Homogenic.

If you've heard "Earth Intruders" - inspired by Bjork's visit to tsunami-ravaged Aceh - then you haven't heard the best that this album has to offer. I particularly loved the two duets with Antony Hagerty (from Antony and the Johnsons), "The Dull Flame of Desire" and album closer "My Juvenile". The latter one sounds like it belonged on Medulla, actually, a criminally underrated album if you ask me. On "Declare Independence" she turns into M.I.A. on cocaine, positively exploding at the seams with anger. Can't wait to see what Michel Gondry does with that when it's released as the second single (Gondry is filming the video soon).

"Wanderlust" has some amazing stuff going on in the background to match Bjork at the forefront of it. "Innocence" is dripping with Timbaland's beats and it works well and if it were sung by Justin Timberlake (heaven forbid) then teenage girls around the world would be praising it as amazing. I also particularly loved how "Vertibrea on Vertibrea"'s musical arrangement sounded like the long lost musical score of a 1940s film-noir.

There is enough wild histrionics to satisfy all long-time Bjork fans, but those who enjoy her more tranquil work will most likely be disappointed that she decided to actually have a bit of fun for a change and has gone more outrospective over introspective. Those who thought Homogenic was the brilliant masterpiece it actually is will surely get enough out of Volta to keep them happy between uptempto albums.

Bjork! New! Music!

Following on from the news of the White Stripe's new album for this year (there's also a rumour that Madonna will release a new one too!) comes news of Bjork's latest CD. I'll just copy and paste the press release from Bjork.com.

"Musical innovator Björk releases her next studio album ‘Volta’ on May 7th 2007.

‘Volta’ is Björk's sixth studio album and follows the release of ‘Medúlla’ in 2004.

Featuring ten brand new and original tracks ‘Volta’ is entirely written and produced by Björk.

In the role of producer Björk has brought in various other musicians to work on her songs and ‘Volta’ features some of her most interesting collaborations so far with Antony Hegarty (Antony And The Johnsons) singing on two tracks, and Timbaland (Jay-Z, Missy Elliot etc) working with Björk on beats that she created for three further songs.

Other artists that feature on ‘Volta’ include electronic pioneer Mark Bell of LFO and two unique drummers – Chris Corsano (the improvisational drummer who has worked with Sonic Youth amongst others) and Brian Chippendale from Lightening Bolt.

Björk also brought in two acclaimed African artists for ‘Volta’ - Toumani Diabate, the Malian kora player and Konono No1 the experimental band from The Congo who won a BBC World Music Award in 2006. She has also put together her own 10 piece female brass section of Icelandic musicians who play on three further tracks. Meanwhile Chinese pipa expert Min Xiao-Fen plays on one song."

Holy shit, right?!?!

I knew Antony from Antony and the Johnsons was guesting but on TWO tracks! And, omg, how freakin' unbelievable are the Bjork and Timbaland combinations gonna be?! This sounds like it could be more Homogenic in tone, which I will always be happy with. eep!

The Kindness of Your Nature

I can't stop watching this clip of Antony and the Johnsons performing "You Are My Sister" on Letterman. I remember watching this when it was on, I had no idea who they were at the time, but I was on the verge of tears at the end. Those final moments are just... *sigh*. If you're not a fan of them then you should probably just quit life.

Okay, not really, but it's such a great song and a great performance by one of the most interesting and unique artists to emerge in the last few years. If you don't have their I Am A Bird Now album, go out and get it. It's totally worth it. I can't wait for their next one.

Fact: The moment in V For Vendetta when "Bird Gerhl" came on was the best bit in the entire movie!