VOLTA
This is my first post in this community, but since I know my friends would not be really interested, and I really wanted to share my initial feelings about the album, I thought I'd post my first report on 'Volta' here.
Earth Intruders
I posted the amazing SNL-live version here earlier, and it's really cool, but the album version is both slightly disappointing and amazingly massive. It sounds like everything on 'Post', but mixed with this entirely new political sneer in the lyrics. She feels positively rebellious on this album, and 'Earth Intruders' feels, sounds, tastes like an opening statement.
And have I mentioned the dancing feet this song gives? It's like the infamous 'Red Shoes': you cannot, cannot sit still. This chorus has been playing through my mind ever since I saw the SNL-clip for the first time, and it's energy is absolutely infective.
Another amazing element, and this goes for the whole album, is her voice. Since 'Homogenic' it has always sounded 'older' or 'mature', compared to 'Post' and 'Debut'; which is logical because she has aged and matured. But on this album she sounds like she's 27 again, and the energy that wafts off the songs is that same energy of someone who's not quite settled down yet and is giving one last kick at reality before succumbing to it.
I also love the outro: it's what Drawing Restraint 9 could have been like if she'd controlled herself. I feel that about a lot of songs.
Wanderlust
This is my new favourite Björk song. It's...
Chilling.
Dazzling.
Overwhelming.
It's an entirely new approach to melody on her part, as far as I can see. There's a lot more actual singing on this album, which is quite strange because there's also a huge return to the old 'shout it and it'll sound like a song'. But this song is the most melodic she's been since SelmaSongs, and the brass section makes it sound like something out of 'Dancer In the Dark'.
It could have been on 'Homogenic' in terms of production and programming, but it would have eclipsed the entire album, so I'm glad it isn't :P.
The Dull Flame of Desire
At first I didn't like this song very much, but after I've finished listening to it for the first time I was completely moved out of my skin. It's an epic song, and there's a Bach-like quality in the twisting and entwining of lining and melodies.
I was very sceptical about her collaborating with Anthony, but I like his voice on this track - his smooth, almost perfect tones are a wonderful contrast to her barbed pronunciation and delivery, which makes the song sting and smooth at the same time.
And it climbs ever higher, like a flower coming to bloom before your very eyes.
It has echoes of 'Pagan Poetry' and 'Jóga', but with the more quiet grace of 'All Neon Like' or 'You've Been Flirting Again'.
And the lyrics are gorgeous. I don't know the poem, but it's simply stunning.
Innocence
This is more vintage Björk: it reminds me of '5 Years', 'Violently Happy', 'Enjoy' or 'Pluto'. It's also more basic Björk-singing: shouting with a lift at the end of the line.
I like the shift towards the chorusses though, and it reminds me a little of the eighties' sound on Nelly Furtado's 'Loose' (also a collaboration with Timbaland).
This song also has my favourite line of the album for now: Neurosis only attaches itself to fertile ground where it can flourish / The thrill of fear / Thought I'd never admit it / The thrill of fear now greatly enjoyed with courage
I See Who You Are
I like the slightly Asian feel to this. It's a small but gorgeous song, a real gem. I can't say it immediately brings something else to mind, except that it shares a certain intimacy with 'Vespertine'. I also love the lyrics, they are again very reminiscent of the lyrics on that album.
It's not a track that stands out, but I can imagine myself being amazed by it every time it turns up in the Shuffle.
Vertebrae By Vertebrae
My least favourite so far, but that has to do with the fact that I don't like the mix with the DR9-sample, even though it comes from one of my favourite DR9-tracks. The rhythmns seem to be mismatched on purpose, and I just can't get into the song. I like the lyrics though, and I love her delivery. The melody reminds me of 'Debut' - it's a simple song that, with a different arrangment, would probably have made an excellent track for a more mellow, poppy album.
It may still grow on me.
Pneumonia
Again, wonderful lyrics. It's carefully black at the outside, and still very bright at the core. There's always this transparent beauty about her words, when she puts her mind to it. This song is almost a whisper, an embrace. And the horns here are merely added magic. She could have recorded this a capella, like she did with 'Show Me Forgiveness' on 'Medúlla', and it would still have struck the same chord.
Gorgeous.
Hope
I have to admit, when I noticed 'Toumani Diabaté', I spend the entire first listening of the song trying to figure out if he altered the song or not. I love, love, love his presence though. It's like a small breeze through the song, but it makes it infinitely lighter.
I'm not too fond of these lyrics though. I like that there's actually politics on her album, but I felt the message of 'Alarm Call' (which was pretty much the same, to me) was delivered in a more efficient and inspiring manner.
But Toumani rocks. Blueses. However you call that.
Declare Independence
I'm not as crazy about this track as some other people, but it's a nice track. It's simply too angry for me on an otherwise very light and warm album. I think the many colours in the sleeve-art and in the promotional art really fit the mood of the album: it's very vibrant and warm, obnoxiously hopeful - the presence of the brass section will have something to do with that I suppose, but also the quirkiness of the songs.
This track, however, is darker and more agressive, more reminiscent of 'Homogenic'. It doesn't fit here, in my honest opinion. Only the jubilant 'higher higher' can convince me.
It's going to be brilliant live, though.
My Juvinile
This reminds me a lot of the Will Oldham-track on DR9, except that this time it's song by Björk :P I really, really love this. The melody swerves all ways and is centered by a very prominent but sparse arrangement through the clavichord. Which is a brilliant addition, I might add. I don't really like Anthony's interventions here, but they don't ruin the song either.
And this is an offer to better the last let go is such a beautiful line...
I don't know what I expected of this new album, but Volta exceeds all expectations. I read all kinds of gloomy reports about it being a step back, or dull and uninspired, but - even though there are a lot of nods to the past - it feels like a very living, breathing beast of its own; and it moves between exhuberant music for the muscles to tender, intimate food for the heart.
I absolutely, absolutely love it and I can't wait to see her live!
Earth Intruders
I posted the amazing SNL-live version here earlier, and it's really cool, but the album version is both slightly disappointing and amazingly massive. It sounds like everything on 'Post', but mixed with this entirely new political sneer in the lyrics. She feels positively rebellious on this album, and 'Earth Intruders' feels, sounds, tastes like an opening statement.
And have I mentioned the dancing feet this song gives? It's like the infamous 'Red Shoes': you cannot, cannot sit still. This chorus has been playing through my mind ever since I saw the SNL-clip for the first time, and it's energy is absolutely infective.
Another amazing element, and this goes for the whole album, is her voice. Since 'Homogenic' it has always sounded 'older' or 'mature', compared to 'Post' and 'Debut'; which is logical because she has aged and matured. But on this album she sounds like she's 27 again, and the energy that wafts off the songs is that same energy of someone who's not quite settled down yet and is giving one last kick at reality before succumbing to it.
I also love the outro: it's what Drawing Restraint 9 could have been like if she'd controlled herself. I feel that about a lot of songs.
Wanderlust
This is my new favourite Björk song. It's...
Chilling.
Dazzling.
Overwhelming.
It's an entirely new approach to melody on her part, as far as I can see. There's a lot more actual singing on this album, which is quite strange because there's also a huge return to the old 'shout it and it'll sound like a song'. But this song is the most melodic she's been since SelmaSongs, and the brass section makes it sound like something out of 'Dancer In the Dark'.
It could have been on 'Homogenic' in terms of production and programming, but it would have eclipsed the entire album, so I'm glad it isn't :P.
The Dull Flame of Desire
At first I didn't like this song very much, but after I've finished listening to it for the first time I was completely moved out of my skin. It's an epic song, and there's a Bach-like quality in the twisting and entwining of lining and melodies.
I was very sceptical about her collaborating with Anthony, but I like his voice on this track - his smooth, almost perfect tones are a wonderful contrast to her barbed pronunciation and delivery, which makes the song sting and smooth at the same time.
And it climbs ever higher, like a flower coming to bloom before your very eyes.
It has echoes of 'Pagan Poetry' and 'Jóga', but with the more quiet grace of 'All Neon Like' or 'You've Been Flirting Again'.
And the lyrics are gorgeous. I don't know the poem, but it's simply stunning.
Innocence
This is more vintage Björk: it reminds me of '5 Years', 'Violently Happy', 'Enjoy' or 'Pluto'. It's also more basic Björk-singing: shouting with a lift at the end of the line.
I like the shift towards the chorusses though, and it reminds me a little of the eighties' sound on Nelly Furtado's 'Loose' (also a collaboration with Timbaland).
This song also has my favourite line of the album for now: Neurosis only attaches itself to fertile ground where it can flourish / The thrill of fear / Thought I'd never admit it / The thrill of fear now greatly enjoyed with courage
I See Who You Are
I like the slightly Asian feel to this. It's a small but gorgeous song, a real gem. I can't say it immediately brings something else to mind, except that it shares a certain intimacy with 'Vespertine'. I also love the lyrics, they are again very reminiscent of the lyrics on that album.
It's not a track that stands out, but I can imagine myself being amazed by it every time it turns up in the Shuffle.
Vertebrae By Vertebrae
My least favourite so far, but that has to do with the fact that I don't like the mix with the DR9-sample, even though it comes from one of my favourite DR9-tracks. The rhythmns seem to be mismatched on purpose, and I just can't get into the song. I like the lyrics though, and I love her delivery. The melody reminds me of 'Debut' - it's a simple song that, with a different arrangment, would probably have made an excellent track for a more mellow, poppy album.
It may still grow on me.
Pneumonia
Again, wonderful lyrics. It's carefully black at the outside, and still very bright at the core. There's always this transparent beauty about her words, when she puts her mind to it. This song is almost a whisper, an embrace. And the horns here are merely added magic. She could have recorded this a capella, like she did with 'Show Me Forgiveness' on 'Medúlla', and it would still have struck the same chord.
Gorgeous.
Hope
I have to admit, when I noticed 'Toumani Diabaté', I spend the entire first listening of the song trying to figure out if he altered the song or not. I love, love, love his presence though. It's like a small breeze through the song, but it makes it infinitely lighter.
I'm not too fond of these lyrics though. I like that there's actually politics on her album, but I felt the message of 'Alarm Call' (which was pretty much the same, to me) was delivered in a more efficient and inspiring manner.
But Toumani rocks. Blueses. However you call that.
Declare Independence
I'm not as crazy about this track as some other people, but it's a nice track. It's simply too angry for me on an otherwise very light and warm album. I think the many colours in the sleeve-art and in the promotional art really fit the mood of the album: it's very vibrant and warm, obnoxiously hopeful - the presence of the brass section will have something to do with that I suppose, but also the quirkiness of the songs.
This track, however, is darker and more agressive, more reminiscent of 'Homogenic'. It doesn't fit here, in my honest opinion. Only the jubilant 'higher higher' can convince me.
It's going to be brilliant live, though.
My Juvinile
This reminds me a lot of the Will Oldham-track on DR9, except that this time it's song by Björk :P I really, really love this. The melody swerves all ways and is centered by a very prominent but sparse arrangement through the clavichord. Which is a brilliant addition, I might add. I don't really like Anthony's interventions here, but they don't ruin the song either.
And this is an offer to better the last let go is such a beautiful line...
I don't know what I expected of this new album, but Volta exceeds all expectations. I read all kinds of gloomy reports about it being a step back, or dull and uninspired, but - even though there are a lot of nods to the past - it feels like a very living, breathing beast of its own; and it moves between exhuberant music for the muscles to tender, intimate food for the heart.
I absolutely, absolutely love it and I can't wait to see her live!