Volta (album)
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This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future album. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content could change dramatically as the album release approaches and more information becomes available. |
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| Volta | ||
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| Studio album by Björk | ||
| Released |  May 2, 2007    May 4, 2007 May 7, 2007  May 8, 2007 May 10, 2007 |
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| Genre | Pop/Hip Hop/Electronica | |
| Label | One Little Indian Atlantic Polydor |
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| Producer(s) | Björk Timbaland |
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| Björk chronology | ||
|---|---|---|
| ( surrounded): (2006) |
Volta (2007) |
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Volta is the sixth full-length studio album from Icelandic singer Björk, a follow-up to 2004's Medúlla, and will be released on May 7, 2007 (Europe with exception of Ireland / Germany May 4). Her official website confirmed the album title and release date in a statement on March 2, 2007.[1] It will feature ten new tracks. Her record company, One Little Indian, is expecting this album to be the biggest selling of Björk's career.[2] In an interview done for daily Internet publication Pitchfork, Björk talked for the first time about the theme of the album:[3]
| “ | But with this one, it was different because I knew more emotionally what I wanted. And because I'd done two or three projects in a row that were quite serious, maybe I just needed to get that out of my system or something. So all I wanted to do for this album was just to have fun and do something that was full-bodied and really up. | ” |
Contents |
[edit] Collaborators
- Timbaland (R&B and hip hop producer; he has worked with Björk on three tracks on the album. Seven tracks in total were recorded during the recording session which lasted for 3 hours and took place in Studio 4 at Manhattan Center Studios in New York City, USA.[1][4][5][6] Jimmy Douglas and Halsey Quemere were engineer and assistant engineer respectively.[7] Timbaland had stated that he intended one of the tracks he did with Björk to appear on his new solo album but this did not materialise.[8][9] The lead-off single from Volta, "Earth Intruders", is co-produced by Timbaland, as well as the tracks "Innocence" and "Hope")[10][11]
- Antony Hegarty (Frontman and lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons; two duets will appear on the album—"Dull Flame" and "My Juvenile".[12][13] The collaborative sessions took place in Jamaica)[14]
- Brian Chippendale (Drummer/vocalist for the band Lightning Bolt)
- Chris Corsano (Drummer)
- Toumani Diabaté (Malian kora player)
- Mark Bell (Musician and record producer; has been a previous collaborator since the album Homogenic)
- Sjón (Lyricist; has previously written the songs "Bachelorette" and "Oceania"; he will be contributing lyrics to one song on the album)[15]
- Konono N°1 (Musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; tracks recorded in June 2006 in Brussels)[16]
- Min Xiao-Fen (Chinese pipa player and vocalist)
- Björk has also put together her own ten-piece female brass section of Icelandic musicians who play on three tracks on the album.[1]
Björk has also collaborated on tracks with the following artists during the Volta sessions, the status of which are as yet unknown.
- Michael Pärt, music producer, "assisted at writing stages and involved in production and recording".[17]
- Damian Taylor, programmer on Vespertine, worked with Björk on material for Volta.[18]
[edit] Track listings
Volta will be released in three editions in the UK - a digipak CD edition, a limited edition CD/DVD edition (featuring surround audio in DTS) and a double vinyl edition.[19][20] UK editions of the album will feature the bonus track "I See Who You Are (Mark Bell Mix)".[21] The Japanese edition will feature a bonus track produced by Timbaland.[22]
| Track | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Earth Intruders" (co-produced by Timbaland) | 4:30 |
| 02 | "Wanderlust" | 5:48 |
| 03 | "Dull Flame of Desire" (duet with Antony Hegarty) | 7:32 |
| 04 | "Innocence" (co-produced by Timbaland) | 4:14 |
| 05 | "I See Who You Are" | 4:22 |
| 06 | "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" | 5:08 |
| 07 | "Pneumonia" | 5:14 |
| 08 | "Hope" (co-produced by Timbaland) | 3:39 |
| 09 | "Declare Independence" | 4:16 |
| 10 | "My Juvenile" (duet with Antony Hegarty) | 4:05 |
| 11 | UK bonus track: I See Who You Are (Mark Bell Mix) | TBD |
Track titles confirmed in an article on mtv.com, March 14, 2007, and track times confirmed in an a post on sprk.nl, March 20, 2007.[13][23] Track-order and titles are still subject to change. One other track, "Trance"[24], has been reported to appear on the album or as a b-side. The track entitled "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" was retitled from the previous, "Energy".
[edit] Single
The lead single from Volta is titled "Earth Intruders" and will be released digitally on April 9, 2007.[25][26] Because new mixes are still being produced the physical release will appear later, on May 21, 2007—fourteen days after the release of Volta.[2] A 15 second clip of "Earth Intruders" leaked on April 1st.
[edit] Music videos
In a press conference on March 22, 2007 French music video director Michel Gondry stated that he would be shooting a video for Björk for an upcoming single, though not specifically stating which track it would be for.[27][28] It will be his seventh video for Björk, having not worked together since the 1997 video for "Bachelorette". Michel Ocelot will be directing the video for "Earth Intruders", his first video for Björk. Ocelot stated that Björk had wanted Kiriku (the African child who is the main character in his two animated cartoons) to be featured as a 20 year-old in the video.[29][30]
[edit] Promotion
As part of the marketing campaign for the album a series of cryptic videos are circulating on various websites, specifically on YouTube and MySpace. The videos contain distorted audio samples and snippets of the lyrics of some of the tracks on Volta. The videos were discovered on March 28, 2007, though one of the videos had been uploaded to YouTube as early as March 19, 2007.[31] A mysterious MySpace profile (link) was then discovered on March 28, 2007 which featured another cryptic video and four new audio samples. The profile allegedly belongs to Gerome Voltaire of "itshardtofindabandname" from Iceland. An article on Pitchfork on March 29, 2007 confirmed the authenticity of the viral marketing campaign.[32]
[edit] Video clips
The following six videos were posted on YouTube by the users "VoltaVideos", "altovaltov", "skiluru" and "heitarpylsur":
March 19, 2007 - "Should I save myself for later, or generously give?" The lyrics are from the song "Innocence" and the music is from the song "I See Who You Are".[31] Video clip
March 20, 2007 - "Let us celebrate now, all this flesh on our bones" The lyrics are from the song "I See Who You Are".[31] Video clip
March 26, 2007 - "We are the earth intruders" It has been stated that the 'wailing' sound in the foreground is distortion but that the music in the background is actually featured on the track.[31] Video clip
March 28, 2007 - "Fear is a powerful drug - overcome it, and you think you can do anything" The lyrics are from the song "Innocence".[31] Video clip
March 30, 2007 - "Nature has fixed no limits on our hopes" The lyrics are from the song "Hope" while the music is from the song "Wanderlust".[33] Video clip
March 30, 2007 - "Protect your language" Video clip
April 3, 2007 - "Fear of losing energy" The music is the same as the audio snippet "Thereza is He" that was featured on the MySpace teaser page. Video clip
Additionally some videos have been posted on the itishardtofindbandnames MySpace profile. The first two videos have been called "V" and "O" respectively and it is assumed there will be three more videos so as to spell "Volta".
March 21, 2007 - "Did I imagine it would be like this?" Video clip
March 21, 2007 - "I have been filled with steam, for months, for years" Video clip
[edit] Audio clips
The itishardtofindbandnames MySpace profile also features four audio clips titled "Thereza is He", "Denoisering", "O is for all ages" and "Oh it is". Another clip was added on March 31, 2007 (replacing "Oh it is") titled "work in progress", the first preview track to feature Björk's vocals.
[edit] Concerts
Björk will be going on an 18 month tour in support of the album, her first tour in four years.[2][34] On the tour, which will be conducted on a month-on/month-off basis, Björk will perform with thirty musicians on stage. So far confirmed as part of Björk's touring band are drummers Darrin Costin (who is not known to have collaborated on Volta) and Chris Corsano, Konono N°1, musician Mark Bell (who also accompanied Björk on the Homogenic tour), pianist Jónas Sen (who played celeste on the tracks Gratitude and Cetacea on the Drawing Restraint 9 soundtrack), a 10 piece female Icelandic brass section and "an old friend of mine who is an Icelandic Chinese concert pianist, and I got him a huge pipe organ, so he's going to wear tails and do some very virtuoso dramatic performances in between sets."[35][36][37] Timbaland will not be joining Björk on the tour.[38] Confirmed dates of upcoming performances in 2007 are as follows.[39]
[edit] First leg
- Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík, Iceland on April 9[39]
- Headlining at the Coachella Festival in Indio, California in the USA on April 27[40]
- Radio City Music Hall in New York City, USA on May 2
- United Palace Theatre in New York City, USA on May 5[41]
- Apollo Theater in New York City, USA on May 8
- Auditorium Theater in Chicago, USA on May 12
- Red Rocks, Morrison, CO, USA on May 15[42]
- Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Francisco, USA on May 19
- Deer Lake Park in Vancouver, Canada on May 23
- Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Washington in the USA on May 26[43]
[edit] Second leg
- Glastonbury Festival in Glastonbury, England on June 22[44]
- Rock Werchter festival in Werchter, Belgium on June 28[45]
- Heineken Open'er Festival in Gdynia, Poland on July 1[46]
- Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark on July 5[47]
- Paléo Festival in Switzerland on July 25[48]
[edit] Third leg
- Arena of Nîmes in Nîmes, France on August 23[49]
- Rock en Seine in Paris, France in August[50]
- Virgin Festival in Toronto, Canada on September 8[51]
- Electric Picnic in Laois, Republic of Ireland on August 31[52]
Although not part of her touring schedule, Björk performed three songs[53] at a benefit concert at Club NASA in Reykjavík on April 1 for FORMA, an organisation who deal with people who have eating disorders in Iceland.[54] Tour rehearsals began after this performance.[55]
[edit] Quotes
Danja (protégé of Timbaland) interview in The Virginian-Pilot, February 10 2007.[56]
| “ | With Björk, "It’s real different. There’s no organization – everybody is just banging on whatever comes to mind, whatever sounds cool. It’s like, whatever drum sounds off or ridiculous is the perfect thing for somebody like Björk because she has a strange way to hear. So it was all good." | ” |
Antony Hegarty interview on Lydverket on NRK1, October 25 2006.[57]
| “ | "Working with Björk was really inspiring. It was really amazing to see like a master. She's like a master. Working in the studio was like 'Wow, look at that!' I couldn't keep up. It was like 300% to my 100%. It was like 'Wow oh god, look at her sing. She's a madcap it's unbelievable. She's just so chilling.' Maybe those tracks will pop up somewhere who knows, we havent really decided yet. I don't know what her record... until she says it's on her record I dont know if its really true." | ” |
Timbaland interview on threedworld.com.au, October 5 2006.[58]
| “ | It’s crazy – I’m going tonight to go hear it. It’s hip hop. I can’t really describe it to you – if I had it right now I’d just play it to you. That’s the best way for you to understand, and I’d let you tell me what it is." | ” |
Timbaland interview on guardian.co.uk, August 8 2006.[59]
| “ | Whoo! The marriage, it's beautiful. You gotta hear it! A lot of people think it's weird her working with me, but I think it's how she sings on top of my beats that make it. | ” |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c bjork.com (2007). "Volta is the name and the date is..". Retrieved on February 2, 2007.
- ^ a b c 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - New Information on VOLTA!". Retrieved on March 10, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Pitchfork: Exclusive: Bjork Talks Volta for the Very First Time". Retrieved on March 5, 2007.
- ^ 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - Timbaland did 7 songs with Björk". Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
- ^ Radio interview with Timbaland on Tim Westwood show on BBC Radio 1, 2007-07-05.
- ^ 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - Timbaland talks about Björk". Retrieved on February 7, 2007.
- ^ mcp-studios.com (2007). "archive.org : Manhattan Center Studios. Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
- ^ TV interview with Timbaland on MTV Live on MTV Canada, 2007-01-31. Video.
- ^ 7digital.com (2007). "7digital.com - Timbaland - Shock Value". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ The Observer (2007). "10 essential albums for spring". Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Pitchfork: Bjork Announces Tour Dates, Talks Timbaland Collab". Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
- ^ antonyandthejohnsons.com (2007). "Antony and the Johnsons news". Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
- ^ a b mtv.com (2007). "MTV News - Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta". Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Björk and Anthony Collaboration up in the Air". Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
- ^ bjork.com (2007). "It has begun, the new year!". Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Konono Record With Björk". Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
- ^ www.paert.com.
- ^ www.damiantaylor.com.
- ^ onelittleshop.com (2007). "One Little Indian". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - NEW news (Volta 5.1, teasers, limited edition)". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ play.com (2007). "Play.com (UK) : Bjork - Volta : CD - Free Delivery". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ fan.pl (2007). "Bjork - Volta @ FaN Sklep z Muzyką". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ sprk.nl (2007). "S p r k . - Post details: Sprk en de Bjork recensie". Retrieved on March 23, 2007.
- ^ rollingstone.com (2007). "Smoking Section: In the Studio With Björk, Bryan Ferry Covers Bob Dylan, Mark Ronson Goes Solo". Retrieved on March 24, 2007.
- ^ allaccess.com (2007). "All Access Music Group". Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
- ^ fmqb.com (2007). [http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?t=p&id=16770 "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved on March 10, 2007.
- ^ telerama.fr (2007). "telerama.fr : « J'ai toujours rêvé d'adapter une histoire sur un arbre de 5 km de haut ».". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ bjork.fr (2007). "Michel Gondry, à nouveau de la partie ? - bjork fr - news, forum, concert 2007, Volta le nouvel album de Björk". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ ansa.it (2007). "(page unavailable at time of citation)". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - Earth Intruders video directed by...". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - Possible slight leak on youtube?". Retrieved on March 29, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Pitchfork: Bjork Trickling Out Volta Teasers". Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
- ^ sprk.nl (2007). "Post details: Sprk en de Bjork recensie". Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
- ^ bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com : gigOgraphy". Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ silverfoxpercussion.com (2007). "Silverfox Percussion - News". Retrieved on January 26, 2007.
- ^ Wire Magazine 277 - March 2007, pg 8, "Bitstream"
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Pitchfork: Bjork Announces Tour Dates, Talks Timbaland Collab". Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Pitchfork: Bjork Announces Tour Dates, Talks Timbaland Collab". Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
- ^ a b mbl.is (2007). "Mbl.is - Frétt - Æft fyrir tónleika Bjarkar". Retrieved on March 16, 2007.
- ^ bjork.com (2007). "The First Gig: Coachella". Retrieved on January 24, 2007.
- ^ nysun.com (2007). "Rev. Ike Opens His Palace - March 6, 2007 - The New York Sun". Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ ticketmaster.com (2007). "Official Ticketmaster site. Björk tickets Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO, Directions, seating chart.". Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ pitchforkmedia.com (2007). "Pitchfork: Sasquatch!: Arcade Fire, Bjork, M.I.A., Interpol, Spoon". Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ nme.com (2007). "Bjork confirmed for Glastonbury". Retrieved on January 24, 2007.
- ^ rockwerchter.be (2007). "Rock Werchter 2007". Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
- ^ opener.pl (2007). "o p e n ' e r f e s t i v a l - n e w s". Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
- ^ roskilde-festival.dk (2007). "Roskilde Festival". Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
- ^ genevalunch.com (2007). "Björk to star at Paléo Festival in Nyon. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
- ^ nimes.fr (2007). "Concert à Nîmes". Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
- ^ rockenseine.com (2007). "Rock en Seine 2007". Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
- ^ canada.com (2007). "Rock en Seine 2007". Retrieved on March 15, 2007.
- ^ [1] (2007). "First acts for Electric Picnic". Retrieved on January 28, 2007.
- ^ bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com : gigOgraphy". Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ nasa.is (2007). "Nasa - Viðburðir". Retrieved on March 15, 2007.
- ^ mbl.is (2007). "Mbl.is - Frétt - Æft fyrir tónleika Bjarkar". Retrieved on March 16, 2007.
- ^ hamptonroads.com (2007). "ARTICLE: Danja: Hitting the right note (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)". Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ 4um.bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com/\/\unity - Antony Talks About Bjork Collab In Old Interview". Retrieved on February 21, 2007. Video.
- ^ threedworld.com.au (2007). "3D World Online". Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ guardian.co.uk (2007). "Angus Batey meets Timbaland. Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
[edit] External links
Studio albums: Björk | Debut | Post | Homogenic | Vespertine | Medúlla | Volta
Compilation albums and boxsets: Telegram | Greatest Hits | Family Tree | Army of Me: Remixes and Covers | (____surrounded):
Soundtrack and live albums: Selmasongs | Live Box | Drawing Restraint 9
Collaboration albums: Gling-Gló
Singles: "Human Behaviour" | "Venus as a Boy" | "Play Dead" | "Big Time Sensuality" | "Violently Happy" | "Army of Me" | "Isobel" | "It's Oh So Quiet" | "Hyper-Ballad" | "Possibly Maybe" | "I Miss You" | "Jóga" | "Bachelorette" | "Hunter" | "Alarm Call" | "All Is Full of Love" | "Hidden Place" | "Pagan Poetry" | "Cocoon" | "It's in Our Hands" | "Oceania" | "Who Is It" | "Triumph of a Heart" | "Where Is the Line" | "Earth Intruders"
Bands
Tappi Tíkarrass | KUKL | The Elgar Sisters | The Sugarcubes | Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar
Films
