as readers of this blog may have gathered, i've been an enthusiastic listener of music by björk for many years. there can be such pleasure in following the work of an artist. her tendency has been to release new material every two years or so... so the initial listens to new work are often quite powerful, curious, surprising, and even cathartic.
björk's new album, volta, is out today. where her last album, medulla, focused on the voice (the bulk of songs a capella), she's mentioned the new album focuses on beats (note: not rhythms... beats; her standard mix of 4/4 or arhythm is alive and well throughout). a few first impressions:
- "pneumonia" is one of the most profoundly affecting songs i've heard in a long while, in the same zone (both lyrically and aurally) as "all is full of love" and "pleasure is all mine."
- "earth intruders" is goofy, catchy, and has a refrain that borrows a partial melody from her earlier song "one day" (off her debut album).
- "declare independence" is an experiment, the first song where she's spoken most of the lyrics. pseudo-punk, the song recalls homogenic's "alarm call" (lyrics) and "pluto" (dirty smash-it-up electric noise/sound).
- two of the album's songs are duets, an unusual move (hasn't occurred since selmasongs).
- memorable lyrics (much has to do with the intonation, descending notes, choral quality): i have lost my origin and i don't want to find it again (from "wanderlust").
- ship horns ("hope")!!!
do you have musicians whose work you follow?
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