The Beat Surrender

Bjork has over the last twenty years proved to be something of a legend, often very odd, always unpredictable, an artist that even if you were her greatest fan she’d keep you on your toes, you probably wouldn’t like everything she’s released and the various changes in direction, yet despite all that you probably admire everything she’s done.

It’s difficult not to, from a vocalist in cult indie band The Sugarcubes (everyone over the age of 25 who likes indie music probably has one compilation with one of their songs on – probably Birthday or Hit) she then blossomed into a mesmerising solo artist at a time when the comptetion was basically Sheryl Crow and later on Alanis Morissette, the pop world needed Bjork and in some respects still does.

For all her legendary status though and for all I like a challenge with music, at times she has drifted too far into the obscure for me, some albums haven’t just been kooky they’ve been almost unlistenable, particularly when she uses her voice more like an extra instrument than the vehicle to express her lyrics. This is something that is still the case sometimes on Volta, her sixth studio album to date, but it is a step nearer to Post and Debut which remain her two best pieces of work to date.

The single Earth Intruders opens the album and was our first indication that she was again ready to be more open and accesible with this album. Although the ship’s horn style opening of the second track throw you off balance, the duet she shares on The Dull Flame Of Desire is quite possibly the most breathtaking track she’s ever recorded for it’s simple beauty. Further on Declare Independance is similar in style to Army Of Me, it has that punding, marching quality to it and Pneumonia has a classy, classical backing to it.

The tracks inbetween these do occasionally take you off on a bit of a tangent, which makes it difficult to build up any momentum of any kind when listening to Volta, for example I See Who You Are sounds like Bjork singing and recording while enjoying an Indian meal in her local curry house and the las two tracks on the album just pass you by the music is so inconsequential.

Continue