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Written by tommy
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Bjork released a new album recently entitled Volta. I have been a Bjork fan for a long time now. Whenever Bjork releases a new album, I always feel like I know what to expect, but at the same time, I don't know what to expect at all. What I mean by that, is Bjork has such a unique sound, but is also not afraid to try anything at all. When I found out she had a new album, I had to get it immediately; the curiosity was killing me.
Volta begins with a song called "Earth Intruders," which is also the albums' first single. Now, I have to admit that I am really not that crazy about this track. Maybe it needs to grow on me a little bit first. The album then moves on to a song called "Wanderlust." "Wanderlust" sounds more like something a listener would expect from Bjork; but nevertheless, it is not that captivating. For me, the album doesn't start to pick up until around track five with the song "I See Who You Are." From then on, I feel like I am hearing what I want to hear when I listen to a Bjork album. The songs transcend into a darker territory; they are more emotional, melodic, and downtempo.
Post will (probably) always be my favorite Bjork album, so I suppose that makes me a tough critic. I would be very pleased to see her return to more of pop sound yet maintaining her artistic nature. Volta is definitely an artsy album set out to be experimental. There really isn't a song on the record that sounds like "the song" to me. "Earth Intruders" is positioned to be that track, but as I stated earlier, it just really doesn't do anything for me. However, I am not saying there is anything wrong with not having an obvious hit on a record. In fact, those are sometimes the best albums.
The instrumentation on the album ranges from electronic sounds to acoustic instruments, as well as, sound effects, drum machines and keyboards. The arrangements are wonderfully textured, and the recording quality is unparalleled. The song "Pneumonia" paints a vivid sound-scape that is very pretty and relaxing. If you're a fan of Bjork's earlier albums, like Debut and Post, I am not certain that this album will appeal to you very much; However, if you enjoyed Bjork's last couple of albums, Volta will probably be right up your alley.
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