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Bjork's strange and beautiful world

Singer's latest effort is energetic, fun and likely to be a welcome addition to her fans' playlists

Amy O'Brian, Vancouver Sun; Reuters

Published: Tuesday, May 08, 2007

VOLTA

Bjork

Atlantic/Warner

Volta is Bjork's sixth self-produced album.

Rating 3 1/2

Bjork hasn't made a name for herself with easy pop tunes or infectious melodies. Instead, the Icelandic singer is often described as weird, inaccessible, pretentious and outlandish. But those labels don't seem to bother her in the least, because she continues to make music that is all of the above -- which isn't to say that it's bad.

Volta, her self-produced sixth album, is no exception. It's filled with disjointed and discordant sounds and rhythms that can be off-putting. It also includes some beautiful moments that include ocean sounds, pouring rain and a groaning foghorn. And there are also dramatic, orchestral-sounding horns; the rich deep voice of Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons); and the familiar hiccuping beats of hip-hop producer Timbaland (of Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado fame).

Bjork's unmistakable voice lurches and screams and soars through the 10 tracks on Volta, which was recorded in several locales, from the 23rd floor of the W hotel in San Francisco to a cabin in Thingvellir, Iceland.

She has said of this album that she wanted to make it rhythmic, energetic and fun, which she has accomplished, though the rhythms are so unusual that "rhythmic" is not the first adjective that comes to mind.

Innocence, one of two tracks produced by Timbaland, is one of the most likable and accessible, likely because of the recognizable beats from the hip-hop producer. It's a fun, lighter track that has Bjork singing in a higher voice and guttural growl familiar from earlier albums.

The Dull Flame of Desire is another highlight. It begins with dramatic horns and builds to a romantic (if odd) duet between Bjork and Antony. It has a theatrical stage quality to it that evokes images of a heart-wrenching third act during which someone dies of a broken heart.

Declare Independence is a political call to arms that has Bjork sounding fiery and angry as drum and cymbal sounds clash behind her. The album closes on a quieter note with My Juvenile, another successful collaboration with Antony that includes a clavichord, but few other instrumental embellishments.

If you've never liked Bjork's distinct sound, this album is unlikely to change your mind. But for fans who have been with her since Debut and Post, this album is likely to be a welcome addition to their Bjork playlists.

Amy O'Brian, Vancouver Sun

 

Athugasemdir

[Jónas Sen, 10.5.2007 kl. 04:24]

"The album closes on a quieter note with My Juvenile, another successful collaboration with Antony that includes a clavichord, but few other instrumental embellishments." Ekki rétt: Það er ekkert annað hljóðfæri þarna en klavíkordið...

[Kristín M. Jóhannsdóttir, 10.5.2007 kl. 06:02]

Athyglisvert. Ætli gagnrýnandinn hafi verið á einhverju? Ég hef ekki heyrt alla plötuna ennþá.