CHUD.com Community › Forums › MUSIC › Music › Volta - Bjork
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Volta - Bjork

post #1 of 35
3/21/07 at 3:56am
Thread Starter 


From Bjork.com
Quote:
Volta is the name of the album and the date is May 7th. The Press release reads thus:


Volta being made

"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 new and original tracks, ‘Volta’ is written and produced by Björk, with three tracks co-produced with Timbaland and Mark Bell.

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."
I'm extremly interested to hear this as I think musically, each album she makes gets stronger. I still think Vespertine is one of the greatest albums of all time.
Reply
post #2 of 35
3/21/07 at 6:31am
This sounds great. I have to say that Vespertine and Medulla weren't quite up my alley, but I loved her first three albums + Telegram (the first album of her's I bought). I now have something interesting to look forward to in May (other than the panicked studying for an exam).
Reply
post #3 of 35
3/21/07 at 8:12am
Apparently Bjork is going all 'political' on us with this one, and combined with Timbaland and Mark Bell, I cant wait to hear the outcome. She's always been paving the way with mainstream electronica, her early albums still sound like they're from the future.
Reply
post #4 of 35
3/21/07 at 9:08am
Medulla was an interesting experiment but, ultimately, didn't really do much for me. Vespertine, on the other hand, contains some of the most beautiful music humanity will ever produce.

While I'd take another album that sounds like the latter, and 10 more like it for the rets of her career, fact is, no Bjork album will resemble any of the ones before it. Which always leaves me with a reason to get excited when she announces a new one.

New Nine Inch Nails in April. New Bjork in May. New Radiohead later.

This is a good year.
Reply
post #5 of 35
3/21/07 at 2:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crow

New Nine Inch Nails in April. New Bjork in May. New Radiohead later.

This is a good year.
Don't forget that we've already gotten new Arcade Fire, new Andrew Bird, and new Modest Mouse, all of which are excellent; you're right, this year is certainly good.

I wish Bjork was coming somewhere around me on her little tour. I'd drive to NYC to see her, but I'm sure those tickets will sell out in around 2 seconds.
Reply
post #6 of 35
3/21/07 at 3:35pm
seriously? nice. i can't wait. i love bjork.
Reply
post #7 of 35
3/22/07 at 3:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cognizant
Apparently Bjork is going all 'political' on us with this one
I've heard that as well and can't say I'm crazy about the idea, but my interest is piqued nonetheless.
Reply
post #8 of 35
3/22/07 at 3:53pm
That is one insane cover.
Reply
post #9 of 35
3/22/07 at 8:32pm
Awesome, though, and only the second Bjork CD cover that I can actually stand (the first being Selmasongs). One of the reasons why I didn't start listening to her music until a few years ago was because the covers were such a turn-off. Especially Post and Homogenic -- just horrible.

This one looks like The Crazy World of Arthur Brown heading down the path of Peter Gabriel Plays Live while drenched in silly string. I LOVE it.
Reply
post #10 of 35
3/22/07 at 8:36pm
Every one of her album covers is a work of art.

This may be the first CD that I buy in well over a year.
Reply
post #11 of 35
3/22/07 at 8:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty
This may be the first CD that I buy in well over a year.
Tell me about it.

Although let me know when it leaks, I'm dying to hear Volta immediately.

I also cant wait for her wacky music videos.
Reply
post #12 of 35
3/22/07 at 8:41pm
I'm with Collier about the album covers, and on the greatness of this one. Yeah, OK, I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said. Looking forward to it.
Reply
post #13 of 35
3/30/07 at 6:14pm
Wow, I actually scored tickets for New York, which is great because I've never caught her live before. Is anyone else going to see her on this little tour?
Reply
post #14 of 35
4/1/07 at 11:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMushnik
Wow, I actually scored tickets for New York, which is great because I've never caught her live before. Is anyone else going to see her on this little tour?
What date did you get tickets for? I got tickets for the Sat show. (last row in balcony, but just happy to get anything...)
Reply
post #15 of 35
4/2/07 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hostiledm
What date did you get tickets for? I got tickets for the Sat show. (last row in balcony, but just happy to get anything...)
Yeah, I got tickets for Saturday, too. The theater looks pretty nice--and small, too, so I was pretty happy I got seats. I'm on the floor (at least I think so) in the Upper Loge, whatever that means.
Reply
post #16 of 35
4/2/07 at 8:23pm
Doesn't look like she's coming to Los Angeles. Damnit!
Reply
post #17 of 35
4/7/07 at 10:26am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjyQK...elated&search=

One of the first leaked songs off the new album, just fucking incredible.
Reply
post #18 of 35
4/7/07 at 10:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMushnik
Yeah, I got tickets for Saturday, too. The theater looks pretty nice--and small, too, so I was pretty happy I got seats. I'm on the floor (at least I think so) in the Upper Loge, whatever that means.

Cool man, see you there! Are you from Baltimore?

Yo Spike! Thanks for the link. Awesome track.
Reply
post #19 of 35
4/7/07 at 12:14pm
Well...it sounds like an old science fiction movie being assembled by a drunken hobo in a factory.

I like it.
Reply
post #20 of 35
4/12/07 at 10:32pm
Thread Starter 
Earth Intruders sounds incredible, apparently the leaked version or Itunes version is not the album version. Cannot wait for this.
Reply
post #21 of 35
4/12/07 at 10:55pm
I love Earth Intruders too. Love the cover art.
Reply
post #22 of 35
4/13/07 at 3:07am
I've been waiting for a good time to use the word 'ridonkulous,' and after iTunesing the single, I think I've found it. Can't wait for the album.
Reply
post #23 of 35
4/28/07 at 11:54am
Album has leaked, albeit in bad quality.

Amazing as expected. First 5 tracks are fantastic, 'Dull Flame of Desire', and 'I See Who You Are' in particular.

The 'political' stuff boils down to two songs, Hope which uses a suicide bomber as an example, and Declare Independance which is about...declaring independance.

Cant wait to buy it. I got my friend the Surrounded boxset this month, guess she'll have to tape Volta to the side or something!
Reply
post #24 of 35
4/29/07 at 10:45pm
Wow, "Declare Independence" is insane. (not sure how it got online, but you can hear it at http://hypem.com/search/bjork/1/ , just scroll down a bit)
Reply
post #25 of 35
4/30/07 at 8:31am
Apparently the whole album was accidentally available on iTunes for a couple hours or something stupid like that.

I'm not usually a fan of brass instruments but Bjork of course does amazing things with them.
Reply
post #26 of 35
4/30/07 at 1:56pm
Ive got the whole thing in 256kbps right now, too much like the Drawing Restraint Soundtrack in places, but time will tell where it lies as the beat driven songs need adjusting to.
Reply
post #27 of 35
5/1/07 at 1:32pm
Like just about every Bjork album prior, it requires a few spins before making a judgement.

First impression, though? It's her weakest album since Debut.

Even still, weak Bjork blows most of the shit you'll hear in the course of a year out of the water.
Reply
post #28 of 35
5/8/07 at 3:50pm
Yep. I really like "Wanderlust," "Innocence" is great fun, and there's a good probability I'll end up loving "Hope," but as a whole, the album seems to fit into that disappointing category of "more interesting than 95% of music I'll hear this year, but not quite what I expected from Bjork."
Reply
post #29 of 35
5/8/07 at 7:47pm
I'm not really overly fond of the production on the album. My first introduction to most of these songs was when she played them live this past weekend (that show was amazing, by the way), and the album versions sound so much... I don't know, safer? More constrained? I'm not sure. She sure doesn't sound like she's having as much fun as she was on stage.
Reply
post #30 of 35
5/8/07 at 10:43pm
Thread Starter 
Just took this home after a final and am loving it. I think Innocence works better than Earth Intruders in terms of her collaboration with Timbaland. The album sounds innovative, weird, hip-hop, and ultimately great so far. I'll come back to the thread later on and elaborate but in the mean time, buy it.
Reply
post #31 of 35
5/9/07 at 5:43pm
I've listened to VOLTA three times already so as to give the music a fair shake (I agree that it takes at least a few spins to form a rating).

Conclusion? At its strongest ("Earth Intruders," "Innocence") a let's-throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks diversion that wears out its welcome before the next track, and at its weakest ("Declare Independence," the two duets) embarrassingly, insufferably awful. Everything in between sounds like Drawing Restraint 9, only flatter and duller.

I think someone just jumped the shark.
Reply
post #32 of 35
5/9/07 at 5:52pm
An artist who releases one weak album in 14 years has far from jumped the shark.
Reply
post #33 of 35
5/9/07 at 5:55pm
How does this release compare to Vespertine? Because if it's even half as good as that, I'll be very happy.
Reply
post #34 of 35
5/9/07 at 6:00pm
This thing sounds great, and on a technical level there's some really interesting stuff going on. But song-wise, it's a weak album, and a really disappointing one given some of the pre-release info we were fed. It's nowhere near as a ccessible or dance-oriented as we were led to expect.

This review from the Observer Music Monthly (never read it) quoted on Metacritic kinda gets it:

"Listen intently, repeatedly, and you'll hear much to widen your consciousness... But listen for, you know, enjoyment and you'll be left wanting. "
Reply
post #35 of 35
5/9/07 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ Fischer
you'll hear much to widen your consciousness...
...and narrow my patience.

Alright, so maybe she hasn't jumped the shark. But this thing is terrible. Just terrible.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Music
CHUD.com Community › Forums › MUSIC › Music › Volta - Bjork