Login for Favorites
EDIT INFOBjork - Voltaic
Tweet
Album Details
- Artist: Bjork
- Album: Voltaic
- Label:
- Year of Release: 2009
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: tosnob on 2009-07-14
RecommendBjork has always been an odd duck (or swan if you will). Iceland's biggest export (besides junk government bonds) is about to drop a 4-disc collection on us. Voltaic contains two concert DVDs (recorded on her 2007 Volta tour in Paris and Reykjavik), a CD, and a remix CD.
Today we're looking at the CD. The proper audio component of Voltaic is a disc of songs recorded live in studio during that same tour.
After repeated listens to the album I have to admit, I'm not sure what the point is. The main difference between the album versions and these live in studio performances is that Bjork's vocals are slightly more imperfect. Many of these songs have changes so minor that they are hardly worth noting.
It's odd that Bjork chose to record these songs live in the studio rather than in front of an audience. While most live albums benefit from the added buzz and excitement of a flesh and blood crowd, many of these studio recordings ("Hunter", "The Pleasure Is All Mine", "Innocence", "Pagan Poetry", "Vertebrae By Vertebrae", shall I go on?) come across as dull and listless.
There are a handful of more interesting moments. The recording of "Army Of Me" does have an intense attack and features horns not present on the original. An Afro/electro hybrid is constructed for "Earth Intruders" which gives the song an engaging 'man vs machine' dynamic. However, those are the exceptions rather than the rule.
It's almost as if Bjork had booked studio time that she had to use up or pay for anyway. The live to tape disc of Voltaic is a waste of time. If you're a completist I hope for your sake the live shows are worth the cost of the set.
User Reviews and Comments
Log In or Register to Rate AlbumsTell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Log In or Register to Rate AlbumsReview:
on 2012-03-19 CharlesMartel Said:
A strange compilation in many ways, " Voltaic" has two CDs which are radically different. The first is a live performance in a recording studio. Yes, I will say that again - a live performance in a recording studio. Doesn't that mean it is a rehearsal or a jam or something? Apparently not. Apparently you do not need an audience to perform live (just as well - there isn't one) and apparently you don't need musicians either - there is a lot of knob twiddling and button pushing but, apart from the odd horn or backing vocal, precious little which could be identifiably assigned to a real human being.
Bjork revels in her oddness, and perhaps this approach is part of that. I get the impression though that, at times, she is being deliberately peculiar to keep up and image and is really, at heart, a homespun girl from downtown Reykjavik. Still, moving on. The studio aspect of this compilation comprises mostly songs from "Volta" with a few from other albums thrown in for good measure. Yet none of the songs seems to be the same as that on the album for little tweaks and, in particular, extra percussion seems to have been added. I am, at this point, beginning to think that the hand of the record company is behind this, ensuring that people who already have the albums will buy this.
I confess to never having been a great Bjork fan. She seems to have developed a musical style which revolves around creating a sort of theme using various tapes and electronic thingamibobs and stuck to it doggedly for each album. The problem is with this is that, when you go on tour, how do you recreate it with enough novelty to avoid it simply being a carbon copy replay of the studio version. In the case of the so-called live disk of " Voltaic" , you don't, except the sound quality is poorer. And in case of the studio disk, it seems you try and add a few extra flourishes.
The consequence of this process is this compilation, though I hesitate to call it a compilation any more for it feels more like a cross between a demo and a remix. Either way, it does not do what it says on the tin. This is a deeply disappointing release which is not going to persuade those, like myself, who are ambivalent about Bjork, to delve any further into her music. Indeed, in truth, it is more likely to put you off taking any further interest in her.
Rating: 4/10
