Bjork


Bjork:

Rate this:

Home > Music > B > Bjork > Discography

Albums | Compilations | Singles | Videos | Other

Björk
Voltaic [Deluxe 3LP/2CD/2DVD Edition]
Release Date: 2007 05 08
Label: One Little Indian
Rating:

Leave it to Björk to make a live album set that can be treated as part of her regular body of work rather than a side note. While Björk fans have occasionally complained about the amount of repackaging of her albums, Voltaic reaffirms just how important the live aspect is to her music, and provides a couple of different perspectives on it as well. Volta sparked a particularly inspired and lavish tour that, arguably, ended up being bigger than the actual album was, but tapped into the most dramatic, primal, and elegant aspects of Björk's art overall. It's fitting, then, that the chronicles of the Volta tour are just as thoughtfully crafted as the shows were (and since Voltaic comes in several different releases ranging from a single live disc to a CD, DVD, and vinyl extravaganza, fans can pick the size that suits them best). This version of Voltaic offers a live CD recorded in one take at London's Olympic Studio, just hours before Björk and her band -- which included Volta collaborators Mark Bell and Chris Corsano as well as the ten-piece all-female Icelandic brass section/choir she put together for the album -- played 2007's Glastonbury Festival, a DVD capturing the highlights of her Paris and Reykjavik concerts, a CD of Volta remixes, a DVD of Volta videos, and vinyl versions of the live album and remixes. Given that the live CD was recorded in better conditions than many studio albums get, it's no surprise that the sound quality is excellent -- almost too excellent. This is not a warts-and-all concert recording with the occasional muddy audio and lots of crowd interaction; instead, it feels like the listener is hiding in a studio booth as Björk and her band perform a flawless rehearsal. While this approach is a little removed, the results are impressive: the Volta tracks ("Earth Intruders," "Wanderlust," "Vertebrae by Vertebrae," "Declare Independence") actually have more impact here than they did on the original album, while the classic songs ("Pagan Poetry," "All Is Full of Love," "Hunter," "I Miss You") adapt to the percussion-heavy Volta approach well. The DVD gives more of a true concert experience, with eye-popping visuals, beautiful shooting and editing, and a cheering crowd. Its set list barely overlaps with the CD's, instead offering great performances of two of Medúlla's best tracks, "Where Is the Line" and "Who Is It," and a rousing finale to the Paris concert in "Pluto" and "Declare Independence" along with Post and Homogenic favorites. The Reykjavik excerpts will be especially exciting to hardcore fans -- it makes perfect sense that she saved deeper tracks like "My Juvenile" and "Vokuro" for an intimate performance in her homeland. The remix CD includes Matthew Herbert's reworking of "Declare Independence" and Modeselektor's take on "The Dull Flame of Desire," while the videos DVD features not only the official videos for Volta's singles, but the "Innocence" video contest winner and runners-up as well. The most elaborate version of the Voltaic set, it's a die-hard collector's or a vinyl obsessive's dream. Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Tracks:
TitleComposerTime
1Wanderlust [Live]
2Hunter [Live]
3Pleasure Is All Mine [Live]
4Innocence [Live]
5Army of Me [Live]
6I Miss You [Live]
7Earth Intruders [Live]
8All Is Full of Love [Live]
9Pagan Poetry [Live]
10Vertebrae by Vertebrae [Live]
11Declare Independence [Live]
12Earth Intruders [Spank Rock Remix]
13Innocence [Simian Mobile Disco Remix 12"]
14Declare Independence [Matthew Herbert 12"]
15Wanderlust [Ratatat Remix]
16Dull Flame of Desire [Modeselektor's RMX for Girls]
17Earth Intruders [Lexx Remix]
18Innocence [Sinden Remix]
19Declare Independence [Ghostigital in Deep End Dance Remix 12"]
20Dull Flame of Desire [Modeselektor's RMX for Boys]
21Innocence [Alva Noto Unitxt Remodel 12" Version]
22Declare Independence [Black Pus Mix]
23Innocence [Simian Mobile Disco Dub Remix]
24Brennið Pið Vitar [DVD][Live]
25Earth Intruders [DVD][Live]
26Hunter [DVD][Live]
27Immature [DVD][Live]
28Joga [DVD][Live]
29Pleasure Is All Mine Paris]
30Vertebrae by Vertebrae [DVD][Live]
31Where Is the Line [DVD][Live]
32Who Is It [DVD][Live]
33Desired Constellation [DVD][Live]
34Army of Me [DVD][Live]
35Bachelorette [DVD][Live]
36Wanderlust [DVD][Live]
37Hyperballad [DVD][Live]
38Pluto [DVD][Live]
39Declare Independence [Live in Paris]
40Pneumonia [Live in Reykjavik]
41My Juvenile [Live in Reykjavik]
42Vokuro [Live in Reykjavik]
43Sonnets/Unrealities XI [Live in Reykjavik]
44Mouths Cradle [Live in Reykjavik]
45Earth Intruders [Multimedia Track]
46Declare Independence [Multimedia Track]
47Innocence [Version 1 (Winner)]
48Wanderlust [Multimedia Track]
49Dull Flame of Desire [Multimedia Track]
50Innocence [Video by David Saghiri]
51Innocence [Video by Dimitrio Stankowicz]
52Innocence [Video by Etienne Strubbe]
53Innocence [Video by Juliet Himmer]
54Innocence [Video by Laurent Labouille]
55Innocence [Video by Mario Caporali]
56Innocence [Video by Miko O_O]
57Innocence [Video by Misi Park & Pierre Khazem]
58Innocence [Video by Christiano Leal]
59Innocence [Video by Roland Matusek]







Browse More Music:
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Follow Starpulse