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Bjork - Volta (Atlantic/Wea) While representing somewhat of a return to the more recognizable song structures of 1997's, "Homogenic" Volta manages to sound utterly contemporary. It drips with dense science fictional beats and odd squeals of fantastic noise. Songs like, "Earth Intruders" and "Declare Independence" are literally full to the point of bursting with webs of clattering sound. There is a wonderful exploration of dissonance here. Bjork has taken the contemporary electronic composer's (think Glass or Reich) ideas on drone, microtonality and jarring dissonance under the wing of her swan dress. These elements are stripped of their dry institutional aspect and pushed out on the dance floor to fend for themselves. How to describe this music? It's the sound of un-Rasta Reggae Dub given the full Barbarella makeover with Karlheinz Stockhausen firing up a helicopter engine as an instrument. Other standout tracks include the pounding anthemic, "Innocence" and the weirdo syncopated jazz of, "Vertebrae by Vertebrae". I hope it's not too much of a stretch here to say that this disc is coming to you as highly recommended. We're so surrounded by pappy, imitative simulacra in this society that when something truly special comes along it's a cause for celebration. That something special is Bjork with her freaked out, yet totally right on, visionary sound world. Do yourself a favor, pop this disc in the player, paint yourself purple and dance around your darkened house naked. Your neighbors might not understand what's going on but you'll be too busy smiling the while time.
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