release date: May 7, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,04]
producer: Björk
label: One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland
Track highlights: 1. "Earth Intruders" (feat. Konono Nº1) - 2. "Wanderlust" - 3. "The Dull Flame of Desire" - 4. "Innocence" - 11. "I See Who You Are"
6th studio album by Björk is a primarily self-produced album with various others producing and co-producing single tracks. Here, it's Timbaland and Danja (tracks #1 and ¤4 - with Timbaland also co-pro. track #8), Mark Bell (track #9) and Damian Taylor (track #6).
Volta signals a return to a more melodic mainstream pop universe with more traditional electronic instrumentation and with compositions based on drum and bass in a dance pop sphere. It feature several guest musicians including Congolese music project Konono Nº1 and Toumani Diabaté, Antony Hegarty (Antony & The Johnsons) feature on two tracks, Min Xiao-Fen (also on two tracks), Mark Bell, and Sjón.
"Earth Intruders" is the only great track on an album, which is a bit of... everything and nothing, really. Generally, I find the somewhat disappointing predecessor Medúlla (2004) slightly more interesting, although that fails on other parameters. Volta is certainly more pop-minded - at least more danceable, but it's basically also easier forgettable.
This is not one of her better album - in fact it's her so far least favourable.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 ]
