Agreed - Volta is still a bit of a letdown, despite some very nice tunes. None of them reach my Björk top twenty though.
"Pneumonia" is a really nice song.
― the Dirt, Monday, 2 July 2007 13:10 (seventeen years ago) link
I'm not sure if the worthy-of-touring thing has anything to do with Volta, more with the fact that she released an album and feels like touring. The NY show with more guests seemed to have more Volta material, but when I saw her there was a stretch of about ten songs in the middle from past albums!
― mh, Monday, 2 July 2007 13:50 (seventeen years ago) link
yeah it's probably got more to do with my own expectations being unfeasibly high perhaps... it is also the first 'proper' tour for (some of) the Medulla material too I guess. Just looks like Greatest Hits part 2 though somehow.
― fandango, Monday, 2 July 2007 14:09 (seventeen years ago) link
i like parts of volta but it sounds too much like bjork revisiting parts of her back catalogue (the snow-trudging sounds on one track make me think of vespertine)
― titchyschneiderMk2, Monday, 2 July 2007 14:21 (seventeen years ago) link
here's what i like about volta, given the semi-ridiculous sprawling nature of these tunes: i think it allows bjork a lot of exploration.
she has said "i sing the only way i can," and i think she's taken that even further here. on some tunes it sounds like she's making it up as she goes along, but i can appreciate that.
also the beats are hot.
― Surmounter, Monday, 2 July 2007 14:45 (seventeen years ago) link
and at least she hasn't gone all cheesy (gosh what would THAT sound like?) at least it's only a cutting-edge-but-still-on-the-cutting-room-floor kind of a problem.
― Surmounter, Monday, 2 July 2007 14:47 (seventeen years ago) link
Feels like that array of famed collaborators wasn't such a good idea - as if they have an idea of what they think a Björk song should shound like, and make something that sounds a little dated and unoriginal rather than let her evolve the way she has done on her other records.
― the Dirt, Monday, 2 July 2007 15:09 (seventeen years ago) link
Innocence
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 03:54 (seventeen years ago) link
the vinyl of this in my local store is almost sixty bucks.
― sleeve, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 03:57 (seventeen years ago) link
HUEG sticker...
― fandango, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:51 (seventeen years ago) link
If this album didn't have "The Dull Flame of Desire" and "Declare Independence" on it, I would say it's a masterpiece. As it stands, it's okay. DEFINITELY better than Medulla, about on par with Vespertine and Debut, not nearly as grand as Post, Homogenic or Selmasongs.
― HI DERE, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:03 (seventeen years ago) link
Ugh, "Dull Flame of Desire." I'd rather listen to "Ancestors" over and over.
― Eric H., Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:10 (seventeen years ago) link
THIS IS VERY TRUE. Gremlin-fucking >>>>> adenoidal drawl
― HI DERE, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link
declare independence is so beautiful, def a highlight - and i could never call Volta on par with Debut and Vespertine! she actually found grooves on those albums.
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:37 (seventeen years ago) link
"Declare Independence" is teh badassery.
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 03:16 (seventeen years ago) link
Innocence will be released as a single on the 23rd of july! The tracks are as follows:
innocence01. Innocence - Mark Stent radio edit 02. Innocence - Simian Mobile Disco remix radio edit 03. Innocence - Carsten Nicolai Alva Noto Unitxt remodel 12" remix 04. Innocence - Ghostigital Untouchable Innocence Still Amazes12" remix 05. Innocence - Simian Mobile Disco remix 12" 06. Innocence - Mark Stent Instrumental 07. Innocence - Simian Mobile Disco dub remix
Simian Mobile School Disco!! fucks sake woman.
― fandango, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 09:06 (seventeen years ago) link
"Declare Independence" tripled in value after seeing it live at Roskilde. Actually, that goes for about every song she performed from Volta - don't know why, but I felt I 'understood' them.
― the Dirt, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 10:01 (seventeen years ago) link
I must have said this a few times already, but it bears repeating: Innocence!!!!!!!!!! i can't come up with any good descriptors for the reaction, but i can't stop playing it.
― Surmounter, Friday, 13 July 2007 00:15 (seventeen years ago) link
I second that.
― The Reverend, Friday, 13 July 2007 05:11 (seventeen years ago) link
definitely, it's become on of my favorite Bjork songs ever, easy.
so yeah this album is really pleasant to listen to for me, i love all the horns and stuff. please, please forgive me if i'm repeating myself, my memory is no good when it comes to these things.
yeah, the carefully orchestrated horn/guitar/ambient soundscapes work really well for me. and even tho the hooks are REALLY HARD to sink into at first, they have definitely evolved. i even found myself singing really passionately that part "the intentions were pure - ooooooh." at first a part like that seemed rather impenetrable(?).
has anyone heard the INNOCENCE REMIXes yet?
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 19:43 (seventeen years ago) link
Best song on this one is "Vertebrae by Vertebrae".
― The Brainwasher, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 19:51 (seventeen years ago) link
YES i do love that. SEE but that's my point it's like at first i was COMPLETELY lost there, and now it's like suspenseful and rich and gratifying
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 19:54 (seventeen years ago) link
is "The Dull Flame Of Desire" supposed to sound like broken CD?
― jed_, Saturday, 12 July 2008 10:45 (sixteen years ago) link
You are seriously on crack
― I know, right?, Saturday, 12 July 2008 10:47 (sixteen years ago) link
i must have a dud copy.
― jed_, Saturday, 12 July 2008 10:57 (sixteen years ago) link
Wanderlust is seriously the best thing on this album, but you freaked me out and I thought there were new bjork rumours or something, don't do that to me, I was resigned to the fact that we were gonna be waiting another five years easy.
― I know, right?, Saturday, 12 July 2008 11:02 (sixteen years ago) link
i very much disagree about Wanderlust. i find it heavy and plodding. but the rest of this album does indeed make me very happy, after a little time.
― I love rainbow cookies (surm), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 15:49 (fifteen years ago) link
alas this still hasn't "clicked" for me.
― Ludo, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 19:44 (fifteen years ago) link
i could really deal without antony's voice on this song
― I love rainbow cookies (surm), Thursday, 16 July 2009 21:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Antony ruins everything. Still pissed about the Hercules & Love Affair album.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 16 July 2009 21:06 (fifteen years ago) link
really the entirety of "dull flame of desire" is tepid bullshit
― surm, Friday, 16 October 2009 18:56 (fifteen years ago) link
like, a melody that meandering isn't really a melody
― surm, Friday, 16 October 2009 18:57 (fifteen years ago) link
i don't remember anything from volta, except for earth intruders. been listening to some other bjork lately though, you could make a completely killer album out of the best vespertine & medulla tracks.
― Ømår Littel (Jordan), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:06 (fifteen years ago) link
I listened to "The Dull Flame of Desire" in its entirety for the second time ever yesterday. Playing it on headphones helps a tiny bit.
― RETARTED (HI DERE), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:10 (fifteen years ago) link
"The Dull Song of Desire"
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:21 (fifteen years ago) link
yea i was just gonna say, the title doesn't help
― surm, Friday, 16 October 2009 19:22 (fifteen years ago) link
you could make a completely killer album out of the best vespertine & medulla tracks.
Correction -- you could make two completely killer albums. FYI, they both exist and are titled Vespertine and Medulla.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:22 (fifteen years ago) link
haha otm
― surm, Friday, 16 October 2009 19:24 (fifteen years ago) link
i like them a lot, but parts of both float right by me
― Ømår Littel (Jordan), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:29 (fifteen years ago) link
The Dull Flame Modeselektor remixes rule!
― StanM, Friday, 16 October 2009 19:32 (fifteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL9UNZNWlV0
hmm, this is certainly better than the original song
― RETARTED (HI DERE), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:38 (fifteen years ago) link
and the other one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BWJywsnL1U
― StanM, Friday, 16 October 2009 19:43 (fifteen years ago) link
ha much better (because it fucks around with the vocals)
― RETARTED (HI DERE), Friday, 16 October 2009 19:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Modeselektor lipsynching their remix on their 2008 tour:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-rqJoci7UI#t=2m20s
― StanM, Friday, 16 October 2009 19:51 (fifteen years ago) link
that #t=2m20s doesn't work here then? (FFWD to about 2'20")
“We have a very ambitious project, a sort of scientific musical,” said Gondry. “[It’s a movie], but maybe more for museums. Like a 40 minute IMAX project in 3D.”
hmmm
― Turangalila, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:29 (fourteen years ago) link
tomorrow, in a year >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything bjork has done or will ever do
― ilxor lookin' boy (acoleuthic), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:35 (fourteen years ago) link
fightin words imo
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:37 (fourteen years ago) link
'scientific musical' set me off - ideas be bitten - although as it's being filmed as well maybe they can do something very different
am suspicious though
― ilxor lookin' boy (acoleuthic), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:40 (fourteen years ago) link
tomorrow in a year is basically unlistenable. I couldn't even make it all the way through. bjork got classics.
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:42 (fourteen years ago) link