A Fascinating Album
Bjork claims that with 'Volta' she wanted to make a fun record and get "rhythmic", employing African artist Toumani Diabete, experimental band Konono No 1 and Sonic Youth percussionist Chris Corsano has definitely aided this as even on opener 'Earth Intruders' a vital beat presides over the tune.
As well as guest percussionists, Bjork teams up with Antony Hegarty on 'The Bull Flake Of Desire' a moving tune incorporating a Fyodor Tyutchev poem shared between Hegarty's deep, quivering vocals and Bjork's smooth self-assured careening voice above a regal brass arrangement and pattering drums. It's a beautiful tune with an reverential tone as Hegarty and Bjork's vocals collide in perfection, there's further use of Hegarty's soulful voice on the soothing, 'My Juvenile'. Another pensive number is, 'I See Who You Are', which is textured with scrambling oriental sounding percussive sounds, while Bjork's vocals are allowed to float like a sensual river of peace above this calming, yet engaging soundscape.
'Wanderlust' speaks of leaving the harbour and moving from "island to island", reflecting the ways in which you must leave your preconceptions behind when listening to Bjork's material, it's best to allow the music to speak for itself, as it does so eloquently on 'Volta'. 'Vertebrae by Vertebrae' is especially haunting with oppressive fuzzy synth sounds launching a rhythmical onslaught on Bjork's gradually building vocals.
The serene 'Pneumonia' with its doleful lyrics of, "I adore how you simply surrender to high" and "Your lungs are mourning", while the following track, 'Hope' is equally scathing in lyric content, telling the tale of a pregnant suicide bomber over a rippling mandolin backing and organic percussion. 'Declare Independence' is a forceful track with raw energy; Bjork's chant of "Declare independence, don't let them do that to you" is a stark contrast to the morose content of the previous two tunes. Chaotic electric squeals break in while a militant drumbeat emerges at the cry of, "Raise your flag", Bjork doesn't do anthems, but if she did this would be one.
Bjork has created another labyrinth of an album with so many twists and turns along the way that the listener has to stop trying to keep up and simply relax back into the hypnotic ride from the punchy rhythmic numbers like 'Innocence' to the swooning soundscapes.