Björk :: Volta

A Björk review 91 days after a Björk release. It took a while, but I have to lay the blame on the Smashing Pumpkins, and Queens of the Stone Age, and every other band / artist that / who released fantastic material in the months following May 8, 2007. Björk’s sixth full-length studio album, “Volta,” has barely found space on my rotation as of late, but not for lack of quality. “Volta,” while not departing completely from the experimental nature of its predecessor, “Medulla,” does feel like a callback to Björk’s earlier solo work; “Debut” or “Post.” At points, that is. Most succinctly, it seems as if Björk is perfecting her mix of layered vocals and orchestration with heavy beats and a dose of hip-hop production. (Timbaland is a collaborator on three album tracks.) Sound interesting? Well, it’s Björk. Perhaps that is, really, the only way to describe it. The Smashing Pumpkins write / play rock music. Dave Brubeck writes / plays jazz music. Björk writes / plays Björk music. Anyhow. Highlights include; “Wanderlust,” with its layered vocals, heavy metal horns, and beats, and “Vertebrae by Vertebrae,” with its foreboding horns, and crazy Björk vocals. (Honorable mention goes to “Declare Independence,” a set of annotated instructions on how to start a country.) Downsides include the teletubby-like cover artwork, and two duets with Antony Hegarty. (Perhaps I just haven’t reached that age where I can properly enjoy a *smarmy* love duet.) As a whole, “Volta” does not disappoint, but does not necessarily surpass Björk’s previous releases. (I give it 6.0 out of 10.0 slices of hot pizza.) If you are a die-hard Björk fan, buy “Volta,” no question. If not, try listening to “Homogenic,” or “Post,” or “Debut,” or “Medulla” first; you won’t be disappointed.

More to come soon.