Volta (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Volta


Type = Studio album
Artist = Björk
Released = May 2 2007 (Japan)
Recorded = 2005 — 2007
Genre = Electronica, Alternative
Length = 51:03
Label = One Little Indian
Universal Music
Atlantic
Polydor
Producer = Björk
Mark Bell
Timbaland
Danja
Reviews = *"The A.V. Club" (B+) [http://www.avclub.com/content/music/bjork link]
*"Allmusic" Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0zfuxzq5ldae link]
*"The Guardian" Rating|4|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2071412,00.html link]
*"Metro" Rating|5|5 [http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/music/article.html?in_article_id=47203&in_page_id=25 link]
*"The Observer" Rating|4|5 [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,2060129,00.html link]
*"Pitchfork Media" (5.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/42768-volta link]
*"Pop Matters" rating-10|7 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/33998/bjork-volta/ link]
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|hm3 [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=bjork link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14149107/review/14187719/volta link]
*"NME" rating-10|8 [http://www.nme.com/reviews/bjork/8520 link]
*"Sputnikmusic" Rating|4|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=11984 link]
Last album = "(____surrounded):"
(2006)
This album = "Volta"
(2007)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Volta
Type = album
single 1 = Earth Intruders
single 1 date = April 9, 2007
single 2 = Innocence
single 2 date = July 23, 2007
single 3 = Declare Independence
single 3 date = January 1, 2008
single 4 = Wanderlust
single 4 date = June 12 2008
single 5 = The Dull Flame of Desire
Single 5 date = September 29 2008

"Volta" is the Grammy-nominated [cite web | author= [http://www.grammy.com/ grammy.com] | year= 2007| title= "GRAMMY.com - 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations List"| url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_Show/list.aspx| accessdate=2007-12-06] sixth full-length studio album from Icelandic singer Björk, a follow-up to 2004's "Medúlla" and comprises ten new tracks. In an interview done for daily Internet publication Pitchfork, Björk talked for the first time about the theme of the album.cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Exclusive: Bjork Talks Volta for the Very First Time"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41528/Exclusive_Bjork_Talks_Volta_for_the_Very_F| accessdate=2007-03-05]

The full album was accidentally made available on the UK iTunes Store at midnight on April 23, 2007 for a total of six hours, two weeks before the album's official release date. [cite web | author= [http://www.macworld.co.uk/ macworld.co.uk] | year= 2007| title= "iTunes UK blunders with Bjork - iPod/iTunes - Macworld UK"| url=http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=17882| accessdate=2007-04-28] This led to the album being leaked online the following day. [cite web | author= [http://idolator.com/ idolator.com] | year= 2007| title= "iTunes Accidentally Flips Björk's Switch - Idolator"|url=http://idolator.com/tunes/leaks/itunes-accidentally-flips-bjrks-switch-255243.php| accessdate=2007-04-28]

For this album, Björk used brass instruments for almost all the songs. These were sometimes sampled.

The album attracted attention due to the inclusion of three tracks co-produced by R&B record producer Timbaland. [cite web | author= [http://www.timeoff.com.au/ timeoff.com.au] | year= 2007| title= ":: Time Off :: Welcome"|url=http://www.timeoff.com.au/index1.php?area=Archive&pg=42&subarea=5632&sel=5632&showcontent=5632| accessdate=2007-05-25]

The track titles were confirmed in an article on MTV, March 14, 2007, and confirmed in a post on [http://www.sprk.nl sprk.nl] , 20 March 2007. [cite web | author= [http://www.sprk.nl/ sprk.nl] | year= 2007| title= "S p r k . - Post details: Sprk en de Bjork recensie"| url=http://www.sprk.nl/index.php?title=sprk_en_de_bjork_recensie&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1| accessdate=2007-03-23] One other track, "Trance" [cite web | author= [http://www.rollingstone.com/ rollingstone.com] | year= 2007| title= "Smoking Section: In the Studio With Björk, Bryan Ferry Covers Bob Dylan, Mark Ronson Goes Solo"| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/03/23/smoking-section-in-the-studio-with-bjork-bryan-ferry-covers-bob-dylan-mark-ronson-goes-solo/| accessdate=2007-03-24] , is rumored to appear as a future b-side. The track entitled "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" was retitled from the previous, "Energy". "Vertebrae by Vertebrae" uses a sample from Björk's previous project, "The Music from Drawing Restraint 9".

"Volta" was 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. [cite web | author= [http://www.onelittleshop.com/ onelittleshop.com] | year= 2007| title= "One Little Indian"| url=http://www.onelittleshop.com/index.php?cPath=20_79_229| accessdate=2007-04-03] [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - NEW news (Volta 5.1, teasers, limited edition)"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12575&highlight=| accessdate=2007-04-03] The UK and Japanese editions of the album feature the Mark Bell Mix of "I See Who You Are" as a bonus track. [cite web | author= [http://www.play.com/ play.com] | year= 2007| title= "Play.com (UK) : Bjork - Volta : CD - Free Delivery"| url=http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/3304729/Volta/Product.html| accessdate=2007-04-03] [cite web | author= [http://www.hmv.co.jp HMV.co.jp] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork - Volta - HMV"|url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2538893| accessdate=2007-04-08] Later editions were released in regular jewelcases.

"Volta" spent nine weeks at number one on "Billboard"'s Top Electronic Albums chart and in the first three months of release sold over half a million copies worldwide.

Collaborators

A wide array of artists collaborated with Björk on material for the album.

Björk first contacted Timbaland about a possible collaboration in December 2005.Fact|date=September 2007 The first session took place in February 2006 in Studio 4 at Manhattan Center Studios in New York City, USA [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Timbaland did 7 songs with Björk"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=9568&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=timbaland&start=0| accessdate=2007-01-27] [Radio interview with Timbaland on Tim Westwood show on BBC Radio 1, 2007-07-05.] [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Timbaland talks about Björk"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=11706&highlight=| accessdate=2007-02-07] , soon after Björk had visited Banda Aceh in February 2006 to view some of UNICEF's work with the children who were affected by the tsunami - in May 2005 Björk released the charity album "" to help UNICEF's work in the south east Asian region. [ [http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/photogalleries/gallery.asp?gallery_id=29&nodeid=g29 Björk visits UNICEF's work in Banda Aceh photo gallery] ] Björk's experiences in Indonesia led to the track "Earth Intruders", originally a ten-minute jam which Björk then subsequently edited for the album version. Björk collaborated on seven tracks in total with Timbaland. [cite web | author= [http://www.mcp-studios.com/news.php mcp-studios.com] | year= 2007| title= "archive.org : Manhattan Center Studios | Audio Dept. | News"| url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060325221642/http://www.mcp-studios.com/news.php| accessdate=2007-01-27] 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. [TV interview with Timbaland on MTV Live on MTV Canada, 2007-01-31. [http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=464024792 Video] .] [cite web | author= [http://www.7digital.com/ 7digital.com] | year= 2007| title= "7digital.com - Timbaland - Shock Value"| url=http://www.7digital.com/stores/productDetail.aspx?shop=34&sid=1115179| accessdate=2007-04-03] The lead-off single from "Volta", "Earth Intruders", is co-produced by Timbaland, as well as the second single "Innocence"; the album track "Hope" is co-written by Timbaland. [cite web | author= The Observer| year= 2007| title= "10 essential albums for spring"| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2030991,00.html#article_continue| accessdate=2007-03-11] cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Bjork Announces Tour Dates, Talks Timbaland Collab"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41776/Bjork_Announces_Tour_Dates_Talks_Timbaland_Collab| accessdate=2007-03-19] Björk has stated that the other Timbaland tracks are unlikely to ever be released. [cite web | author= [http://www.drownedinsound.com drownedinsound.com] | year= 2007| title= "Drowned in Sound - Features - "I’m just doing my best to escape boredom": DiS questions Björk about Volta and beyond"| url=http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1900868| accessdate=2007-04-28]

Antony Hegarty, frontman and lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons, appears on the album for two duets—"The Dull Flame of Desire" and "My Juvenile". [cite web | author= [http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/ antonyandthejohnsons.com] | year= 2007| title= "Antony and the Johnsons news"| url=http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/news/news.html=| accessdate=2007-02-08] cite web | author= [http://www.mtv.com/ mtv.com] | year= 2007| title= "MTV News - Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta"| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1554591/20070314/bjork.jhtml| accessdate=2007-03-14] The collaborative sessions took place in Jamaica. [cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk and Anthony Collaboration up in the Air"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/2006/7/5/Antony_Bj%F6rk+Collaboration_up_in_the_Air_#37229| accessdate=2007-01-27]

Björk has also put together her own fourteen-piece brass section of female Icelandic musicians who play on three tracks on the album. Its members comprise Sylvía Hlynsdóttir, Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir, Dröfn Helgadóttir, Valdís Þorkelsdóttir, Karen J. Sturlaugsson, Björk Níelsdóttir, Sigrún Jónsdóttir, Harpa Jóhannsdóttir, Vilborg Jónsdóttir, Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir, Erla Axelsdóttir, Særún Pálmadóttir, Lilja Valdimarsdóttir and Brynja Guðmundsdóttir. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "LYRICS"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/lyrics/| accessdate=2007-05-07]

Other collaborators include Brian Chippendale (Drummer), Chris Corsano (Drummer), Toumani Diabaté (Malian kora player), Mark Bell (Musician and record producer), Sjón (Lyricist; contributed lyrics to one song on the album [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "It has begun, the new year!"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=602;year=2007| accessdate=2007-02-22] ), Konono N°1 (Musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Konono Record With Björk"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/37522/Konono_Record_With_Bjork| accessdate=2007-01-27] ), Damian Taylor (Programmer, Engineer), Michael Pärt (Music Producer) and Min Xiao-Fen (Chinese pipa player).

Tracklisting

All tracks written by Björk except where noted.
#"Earth Intruders" (Björk, Timothy Mosley, Nate Hills) ^{– 6:13}
#"Wanderlust" (Björk, Sjón) ^{– 5:51}
#"The Dull Flame of Desire" (featuring Antony Hegarty) ^{– 7:30}
#"Innocence" (Björk, Timothy Mosley, Nate Hills) ^{– 4:26}
#"I See Who You Are" (Mark Bell, Björk) ^{– 4:21}
#"Vertebrae by Vertebrae" ^{– 5:07}
#"Pneumonia" ^{– 5:13}
#"Hope" (Björk, Mosley) ^{– 4:02}
#"Declare Independence" (Bell, Björk) ^{– 4:10}
#"My Juvenile" (featuring Antony Hegarty) ^{– 4:01}

Bonus tracks

* "I See Who You Are" [Mark Bell Mix] ^{– 4:06}
**Available on UK and Japanese editions and with pre-order from U.S. iTunes Store
* "Earth Intruders" [Mark Stent Extended Edit] ^{– 4:26}
**Available from iTunes
* "Innocence" [Mark Stent Mix] ^{– 4:21}
**Available from iTunes

A 3-disc special edition of the album named 'Volta Revisited' was rumoured to be released at the end of March 2008, and some online music shops made the album available for pre-order. 'Volta Revisited' will include all the remixes and videos from the "Volta" era.cite web | author= [http://forum.bjork.fr/ forum.bjork.fr] | year= 2007| title= "single / clip Declare Independence réalisé par Michel Gondry - bjork fr - Forum Söfftchevaliers "| url=http://forum.bjork.fr/index.php?showtopic=7023&st=150|accessdate=2009-01-03] Additionally, the release will contain a live performance with her current live band recorded at London's Olympic Studios on June 25, 2007, [cite web | author= [http://blog.bjork.com blog.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "The Journey Itself Is Home - A Recording Session"| url=http://blog.bjork.com/2007/06/25/a-recording-session/| accessdate=2008-01-03] shortly after her headline performance at Glastonbury Festival. It was originally announced on September 4, 2007 as the "Live Sessions Album", and was thought of as being a separate release. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com / news - EMA nomination and Live Album Sessions"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=691;year=2007| accessdate=2008-01-03] It's unknown if some B-Sides of the Volta era will be included on this release.

The lead single from "Volta" was "Earth Intruders", released digitally on April 9, 2007, though leaked on April 6, 2007. [cite web | author= [http://www.allaccess.com/ allaccess.com] | year= 2007| title= "All Access Music Group"| url=http://www.allaccess.com/mainFrame.php?url=/site/home/index.php%3Fbs=sp%26sn=home%26d=alternative%26f=home%26ng=alternative%26ag=42| accessdate=2007-03-07] [cite web | author= [http://fmqb.com/ fmqb.com] | year= 2007| title= "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!"| url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?t=p&id=16770|accessdate=2007-03-10] Originally expected to be released as a physical single on May 21, 2007, the release was instead replaced by another digital release, "Earth Intruders - Club Mixes", via iTunes.

The second single from "Volta" was originally meant to be "Declare Independence", but due to the worldwide success of "Volta" Björk had to perform more international promotion work than her label One Little Indian had originally planned, meaning that the previously-planned video shoot for "Declare Independence" with Michel Gondry in London couldn't take place. The deadline for the music video contest for "Innocence" (originally announced on March 19, 2007) was then brought forward a month to June 10, 2007 so as to provide a finished video able to coincide with the July release originally planned for Declare Independence. "Innocence", the other Timbaland-co-produced track, was released digitally across the globe on July 23, 2007. It was announced that the release would be available in the US on July 31, 2007, [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "Innocence is to be made as video"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=626;year=2007| accessdate=2007-04-20] though this date was moved later.

"Declare Independence" was released as the third single from "Volta" on January 1, 2008. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com / news - Spring Tour 2008"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=727;year=2007#news|accessdate=2007-11-27] The video, directed by Michel Gondry (his seventh video with Björk, and the first since 1997's "Bachelorette"), was premiered on AOL on 6 December, 2007 and on Channel 4 in the UK on December 13, 2007. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - C4 Video Exclusive"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=17961|accessdate=2007-12-24] [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.fr/ bjork.fr] | year= 2007| title= "Declare Independence : clip en décembre + single en janvier - bjork.fr news, forum, photos, concert 2007 / 2008, Volta, Live Session Album"| url=http://bjork.fr/+1ere-photos-du-clip-Declare+.html|accessdate=2007-11-27] A making-of was made available on November 29, 2007. [cite web | author= [http://www.spinner.com/ spinner.com] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork, The Making of... 'Declare Independence' - Video Exclusive - Spinner.com - Free MP3s, Interviews, Music News, Live Performances, Songs and Videos"| url=http://www.spinner.com/2007/11/29/bjork-the-making-of-declare-independence-video-exclusive/|accessdate=2007-11-30] The video shoot took place on October 11, 2007 in New York City. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Pictures from Declare Independence"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?p=675429&highlight=#675429|accessdate=2007-11-27] Unlike the first two singles from "Volta", the single will have a physical release in the form of two 12” Vinyls, a CD and a DVD. [cite web | author= [http://musicnonstop.co.uk/ musicnonstop.co.uk] | year= 2007| title= "MusicNonStop.co.uk"| url=http://musicnonstop.co.uk/product-view.php?productid=20518|accessdate=2007-12-06]

A video was also shot for the track "Wanderlust", [cite web | author= [http://living.scotsman.com/ living.scotsman.com] | year= 2007| title= "Scotsman.com Living - Music - 'I have a lot of respect for people like Debussy'"| url=http://living.scotsman.com/music.cfm?id=1350132007|accessdate=2007-11-27] directed by Encyclopedia Pictura and shot in New York City in stereoscopic 3D.cite web | author= [http://newyork.craigslist.org/ newyork.craigslist.org] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork Music Video seeking Compositors, Rotoscopers, and CG Artists"| url=http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cpg/476694784.html|accessdate=2007-11-27] The video involves "a mixture of large scale puppeteering, live action acrobatics, miniatures, and CG". The video and single were released in February, 2008. [cite web | author= [http://studiodaily.com/ studiodaily.com] | year= 2007| title= "Making a 3D Music Video for Björk | Studio Daily"| url=http://studiodaily.com/main/technique/casestudies/8811.html|accessdate=2007-12-06] The video was choreographed by Chris Elam, artistic director of [http://www.misnomer.org Misnomer Dance] , and features Brynne Billingsley and Coco Karol.

It was reported on the official site of Antony and the Johnsons that Antony Hegarty and Björk had shot a video for "The Dull Flame of Desire". [cite web | author= [http://antonyandthejohnsons.com/ antonyandthejohnsons.com] | year= 2007| title= "Antony and the Johnsons news"| url=http://antonyandthejohnsons.com/news/news.html|accessdate=2007-12-06] The news was subsequently removed from the site. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - You WILL See The Dull Flame Of Desire"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=17869&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40|accessdate=2007-12-06] . Then Björk in a recent interview said that she and Antony have recorded themselves singing the song on a green screen, and that she sent the video to three directors of the Innocence video contest, and that they're doing the Dull Flame Of Desire video together via e-mail. Björk's official website finally confirmed "The Dull Flame of Desire" to be the fifth single from "Volta" on July 31, 2008, also crediting the following "Innocence" Competition Applicants as the promotional video's directors: Cristoph Jantos, Masahiro Mogari, and Marçal Cuberta Junca. The single will be released in a 2x12" CD/DVD Box Set on September 29, 2008.

Promotion

As part of the marketing campaign for the album, a series of cryptic videos were circulated on various websites, specifically via YouTube and MySpace. The videos contained distorted audio samples and snippets of the lyrics from 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.cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - Possible slight leak on youtube?"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=12546&highlight=| accessdate=2007-03-29] A mysterious MySpace profile ( [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=170861582 link] ) was then discovered on March 28, 2007 which featured another cryptic video and four new audio samples. The profile belonged to a fictitious "Gerome Voltaire" (a play on "Alessandro Volta", the inventor of the electric battery) of the band "itshardtofindabandname" from Iceland. An article on Pitchfork on March 29, 2007 later confirmed the authenticity of the viral marketing campaign. [cite web | author= [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Bjork Trickling Out Volta Teasers"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/42003-bjork-trickling-out-ivoltai-teasers| accessdate=2007-03-31] A podcast shot by Ragnheidur Gestsdóttir detailing the album's production was made available on iTunes on April 10, 2007 - six episodes were made for download, though the final installment cuts out before the video ends. As of yet, the podcast hasn't been fixed by iTunes. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - björk podcast - video"| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=13176| accessdate=2007-04-15]

On April 21, 2007, Björk appeared as musical guest on an episode of the U.S. comedy-variety show "Saturday Night Live" in promotion of the album. She performed the songs "Earth Intruders" and "Wanderlust". [http://www.culturebully.com/archives/3117] [ [http://www.mulley.net/2007/04/23/bjork-on-saturday-night-live-apri-2007/ Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Bjork on Saturday Night Live Apri 2007 ] ] [ [http://snlarc.jt.org/ep.php?i=200704218 SNL Archives | Episode.] Retrieved August 25, 2007.]

On June 8, 2007 (recorded on June 5, 2007), Björk performed on the contemporary UK music show "Later With Jools Holland" for the fifth time in her solo career. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.fr/ bjork.fr] | year= 2007| title= "Later with Jools Holland - bjork.fr news, forum, photos, concert 2007 / 2008, Volta, Live Session Album"| url=http://www.bjork.fr/Volta-Later-Jools-Holland.html| accessdate=2007-12-06] She performed the songs "Earth Intruders", "The Anchor Song", and "Declare Independence."

On September 27, 2007, she appeared on the American late night talk show "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", performing the song "Wanderlust". [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "Late Night With Conan O'Brien... and Björk!"| url=http://bjork.com/news/?id=696;year=2007| accessdate=2007-12-06] This show was after her headlining performance at a sold out show at Madison Square Garden.

Alleged "Return to Pop"

In the run-up to the release of the album, many media outlets were lauding the album as a return to the supposed "pop" sound of Björk's earlier solo albums "Debut" and "Post". This was due in part to the inclusion of three tracks co-produced by record producer Timbaland; in interviews before the album's release he had stated that seven of the tracks he worked with Björk on would end up on her album, [cite web | author= [http://www.grounduphiphop.com/ grounduphiphop.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk & Timbaland @ Ground Up HipHop - Hip Hop news, reviews and mixtape"| url=http://www.grounduphiphop.com/2006/08/10/bjork-timbaland/| accessdate=2007-10-21] seemingly indicating that there would be more of Timbaland's involvement on the record than there eventually was. At the time Timbaland had also had recent hits with Justin Timberlake (SexyBack) and Nelly Furtado (Promiscuous and Maneater), with him and his protégé Danja being responsible for some of the biggest hits of 2006 and 2007. As the news of Björk having worked with Timbaland spread across the internet, many websites started speculating on whether the album would be "hip hop" flavoured; in one interview Timbaland himself referred to the upcoming album as "hip hop". [cite web | author= [http://gossip.elliottback.com/ gossip.elliottback.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk & Timbaland by The Gossip Rag"| url=http://gossip.elliottback.com/2006/10/21/bjork-timbaland/| accessdate=2007-10-21]

The online music magazine Pitchfork, in their exclusive first interview with Björk for the promotion of "Volta", quoted Björk as saying that the new album would be "full-bodied and really up". This was taken by fans as further evidence of a more "pop" album (as compared to her more recent output). A week later the head of Björk's record company, Derek Birkett, heralded the new album as "the most commercial thing she's ever done" in Music Week, the trade paper for the UK record industry. [cite web | author= [http://www.atforumz.com/ atforumz.com] | year= 2007| title= "Info About The New Album - Page 6 - @forums"| url=http://www.atforumz.com/showpost.php?p=5089560&postcount=76| accessdate=2007-10-21]

Björk has since stated that the media effectively "got it wrong" with regard to their coverage of the albumFact|date=November 2007, insisting that the album was not "hip hop" (and that she had not intended for it to be so either). She said that she did not want to work with Timbaland as a "hitmaker", or because of his affiliation to a particular genre, but wanted to work with him solely as a musician in his own right. She has also said that One Little Indian "always feel that ‘my latest release is the most commercial to date’", [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "björk : about"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/about/right.php?id=1384| accessdate=2007-10-21] and that she feels "Volta" is no more commercial than any of her previous work.

Volta Worldwide Tour

Björk went on an 18 month tour in support of the album, which was her first tour in four years. [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com : gigOgraphy"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/gigography/2003.htm| accessdate=2007-02-01] On the tour, which was conducted on a month-on/month-off basis, Björk performed with fourteen musicians on stage. Björk's touring band for this tour constisted of drummer Chris Corsano, 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), musician Damian Taylor and a 10 piece female Icelandic brass section. [cite web | author= [http://www.silverfoxpercussion.com/ silverfoxpercussion.com] | year= 2007| title= "Silverfox Percussion - News"| url=http://www.silverfoxpercussion.com/news.html| accessdate=2007-01-26] ["Wire Magazine 277" - March 2007, pg 8, "Bitstream"] Timbaland did not join Björk on the tour. Björk had described the tour as "kind of primitive, raw, almost butch", in marked contrast to her 2001 tour for "Vespertine".cite web | author= [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ nzherald.co.nz] | year= 2007| title= "Ice Queen Bjork cometh, turn off the phone - 27 Nov 2007 - NZ Herald: Entertainment News, Reviews and Gossip from New Zealand and around the World"| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10478556| accessdate=2007-11-27] At several of the concerts Björk had been joined on stage by some of the musicians who collaborated on the album (but who are not part of the touring band), including Antony Hegarty, Min Xiao-Fen and Toumani Diabaté. Many of the live performances from the current tour can be viewed on the video sharing website YouTube, shot by people in the audience. However, Björk has voiced her dislike of fans recording video/taking pictures (with flash) at her concerts using their mobile phones ("little cameras"), stating that it affects her ability to perform. [cite web | author= [http://4um.bjork.com/ 4um.bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com//unity - "Holding your little cameras""| url=http://4um.bjork.com/viewtopic.php?t=17668| accessdate=2007-11-26] The tour is taking Björk to countries that she has not played in for over a decade, including Mexico, Brazil, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.

Although not part of her touring schedule, Björk performed three songs [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "bjork.com : gigOgraphy"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/gigography/sub.php?id=32| accessdate=2007-04-03] at a benefit concert at Club NASA in Reykjavík on April 1 for [http://forma.go.is/ FORMA] , an Icelandic organisation which deals with people who have eating disorders. [cite web | author= [http://nasa.is/ nasa.is] | year= 2007| title= "Nasa - Viðburðir"| url=http://nasa.is/index.php?option=com_n-nasa-ticket&Itemid=24&do=view_event&event_id=167| accessdate=2007-03-15] Tour rehearsals began after this performance.cite web | author= [http://www.mbl.is/ mbl.is] | year= 2007| title= "Mbl.is - Frétt - Æft fyrir tónleika Bjarkar"| url=http://www.mbl.is/mm/folk/frett.html?nid=1259287| accessdate=2007-03-16] Björk's touring schedule throughout 2007 and 2008 was as follows.

2007

First leg

* Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík, Iceland on April 9
* Coachella Festival in Indio, California in the USA on April 27 [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/ bjork.com] | year= 2007| title= "The First Gig: Coachella"| url=http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=603;year=2007| accessdate=2007-01-24]
* Radio City Music Hall in New York City, USA on May 2
* United Palace Theater in New York City, USA on May 5 [cite web | author= [http://www.nysun.com/ nysun.com] | year= 2007| title= "Rev. Ike Opens His Palace - March 6, 2007 - The New York Sun"| url=http://www.nysun.com/article/49840?page_no=1| accessdate=2007-03-06] (This concert was broadcasted on radio by WNYC)
* Apollo Theater in New York City, USA on May 8
* Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, USA on May 12
* Red Rocks, Morrison, Colorado, USA on May 15 [cite web | author= [http://www.ticketmaster.com/ ticketmaster.com] | year= 2007| title= "Official Ticketmaster site. Björk tickets Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO, Directions, seating chart."| url=http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1E003E5AC76A7312?artistid=753508&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60| accessdate=2007-03-06]
* Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, USA on May 19
* Deer Lake Park in Vancouver, Canada on May 23
* Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Washington, USA on May 26 [cite web | author= [http://pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Sasquatch!: Arcade Fire, Bjork, M.I.A., Interpol, Spoon"| url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41271/Sasquatch_Arcade_Fire_Bjork_M_I_A_Interpol_| accessdate=2007-02-21]

econd leg

* Glastonbury Festival in Glastonbury, England on June 22 [cite web | author= [http://www.nme.com/ nme.com] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork confirmed for Glastonbury"| url=http://www.nme.com/news/bjork/26033| accessdate=2007-01-24] (This concert was broadcasted on BBC Four (and later on BBC Two) by the BBC)
* Rock Werchter festival in Werchter, Belgium on June 28 [cite web | author= [http://www.rockwerchter.be/ rockwerchter.be] | year= 2007| title= "Rock Werchter 2007"| url=http://www.rockwerchter.be/RW2007/fase1/index.asp| accessdate=2007-02-09]
* Heineken Open'er Festival in Gdynia, Poland on July 1 [cite web | author= [http://www.opener.pl/ opener.pl] | year= 2007| title= "o p e n ' e r f e s t i v a l - n e w s"| url=http://www.opener.pl/news_current_en.html| accessdate=2007-01-31]
* Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark on July 7 [cite web | author= [http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/ roskilde-festival.dk] | year= 2007| title= "Roskilde Festival"| url=http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/object.php?obj=822000c&base=5c1a2e7e&Letter=alle&code=45| accessdate=2007-01-31] (This concert was broadcasted on radio by P3 and later RTÉ)
* Open air concert in the Westerpark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on July 8 [cite web | author= [http://www.mojo.nl/ mojo.nl] | year= 2007| title= "Mojo concerts"| url=http://www.mojo.nl/agenda/evenement.asp?pid=1217| accessdate=2007-04-07]
* Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilbao, Basque country on July 13
* La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia, Spain on July 15
* La Plaza de Toros de las Ventas in Madrid, Spain on July 18
* No Borders Music Festival in Codroipo, Italy on July 21
* Paléo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland on July 25 [cite web | author= [http://www.genevalunch.com/ genevalunch.com] | year= 2007| title= "Björk to star at Paléo Festival in Nyon | GenevaLunch| url=http://www.genevalunch.com/node/3004| accessdate=2007-02-14]

Third leg

* Arena of Nîmes in Nîmes, France on August 21cite web | author= [http://www.nimes.fr/ nimes.fr] | year= 2007| title= "Concert à Nîmes"| url=http://www.nimes.fr/| accessdate=2007-01-31]
* Arena of Nîmes in Nîmes, France on August 23
* Rock en Seine in Paris, France in August 26 [cite web | author= [http://www.rockenseine.com/ rockenseine.com] | year= 2007| title= "Rock en Seine 2007"| url=http://www.rockenseine.com/| accessdate=2007-02-01]
* Electric Picnic in Laois, Republic of Ireland on August 31 [cite web | author= [http://www.muse.ie/ muse.ie] | year= 2007| title= "First acts for Electric Picnic"| url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/first-acts-for-electric-picnic/spId/943650F4-CA04-7494-C22E33D09E09A93D.html/| accessdate=2007-01-28]
* Connect Music Festival in Argyll, Scotland on September 2 [cite web | author= [http://www.connectmusicfestival.com/content/] ]
* Virgin Festival in Toronto, Canada on September 8 [cite web | author= [http://www.canada.com/ canada.com] | year= 2007| title= "Rock en Seine 2007"| url=http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=276d3ae5-5376-4849-adff-57ca5041f9f6&k=99398| accessdate=2007-03-15]
*Fox Theatre in Detroit, USA on September 11cite web | author= [http://pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Pitchfork: Bjork Comes Back to North America This Fall"| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44236-bjork-comes-back-to-north-america-this-fall| accessdate=2007-07-15]
*Austin City Limits Festival in Austin, Texas, USA on September 14 [cite web | author= [http://pitchforkmedia.com/ pitchforkmedia.com] | year= 2007| title= "Bjork, Arcade Fire, Stripes, Wilco Play Austin City Limits "| url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42855-bjork-arcade-fire-stripes-wilco-play-austin-city-limits| accessdate=2007-07-15]
*Fox Theatre in Atlanta, USA on September 17
*Jacques-Cartier Pier in Montreal, Canada on September 21
*Madison Square Garden in New York City, USA on September 24

Fourth leg

*TIM Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 26
*TIM Festival in São Paulo, Brazil on October 28
*TIM Festival in Curitiba, Brazil on October 31
*Gran Rex in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 4
*Gran Rex in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 7
*Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo in Santiago, Chile on November 10 [cite web | author= [http://www.bjork.com/] | year= 2007 | title= "Björk Gigography"| url=http://www.bjork.com/facts/gigography/2007.htm]
*Vértice del Museo de la Nación in Lima, Perú on November 13
*Palacio de los Deportes in Bogotá, Colombia on November 17
*Sonofilia Festival in Huentitan Canyon, Guadalajara, Mexico on December 8 [cite web | author= [http://www.jornada.unam.mx] | year= 2007| title= "Björk se presentará por primera vez en México"| url=http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2007/09/02/index.php?section=espectaculos&article=a09n1esp&partner=rss| accessdate=2007-09-06]
*Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, USA on December 12
*Pearl Concert Theatre in Las Vegas, USA on December 15

2008

Fifth leg

*Big Day Out in Auckland, New Zealand on January 18
*Big Day Out in Gold Coast, Australia on January 20
*Sydney Opera House forecourt (as part of the Sydney Festival) in Sydney, Australia on January 23
*Big Day Out in Sydney, Australia on January 25 (withdrew due to illness)
*Big Day Out in Melbourne, Australia on January 28
*Big Day Out in Adelaide, Australia on February 1
*Big Day Out in Perth, Australia on February 3
*Tennis Indoor Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia on February 12
*Olympic Hall in Seoul, South Korea on February 16
* Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on February 19
*Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on February 22
* Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan on February 25
* Hong Kong Asiaworld Arena in Hong Kong, China on February 28
* Shanghai Arena in Shanghai, China on March 2

Sixth leg

* Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England on April 11
* Hammersmith Apollo in London, England on April 14
* Hammersmith Apollo in London, England on April 17
* Hammersmith Apollo in London, England on April 20
* Plymouth Pavilions in Plymouth, England on April 22
* Wolverhampton Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England on April 25
* Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 28
* The Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England on May 1
* Sheffield City Hall in Sheffield, England on May 4 (withdrew due to illness)

eventh leg

*Paris Olympia in Paris, France on June 25 (Filmed for possible future release)
*Nattúra festival in Reykjavík, Iceland on June 28
*Sheffield City Hall in Sheffield, England on July 2 (rescheduled) (cancelled)
*Wild in the Country at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, England on July 5 (cancelled)
*Finlandia Park in Helsinki, Finland on July 10 (cancelled)
*Vingio Park in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 13
*Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia on July 16
*Melt! festival in Ferropolis, Germany on July 20
*Parco della Musica in Rome, Italy on July 25
*Arena di Verona in Verona, Italy on July 28
*Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, Greece on July 31
*Kuruçeşme Arena in Istanbul, Turkey on August 3
*Festival Sudoeste in Zambujeira do Mar, Portugal on August 7
*Ola Festival in El Ejido, Spain on August 15
*Langholtskirkja (church) in Reykjavík, Iceland on August 26 (Filmed for possible future release)

Chart performance

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=602;year=2007/ First news] on [http://bjork.com/ bjork.com]
* [http://www.bjorkvolta.com/ Official "Volta" site]
* [http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/volta/ "Volta" mini-site]
* [http://comfortcomes.com/?page=reviews&id=1695 Volta Review]