Monday, May 7, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Volta turns in right direction By CHRIS GAERIG Daily Arts Writer There are few things that can be said about Bjork that haven't already been said. Good and bad alike, she's heard it all: musical genius, fashionably challenged, innovator, childish extrovert. When word started to spread about Volta, her latest release, blogsbuzzedwith rumors of Tim- Bjork baland collabora- Bjark tions, spazzcore Volta troupe drum- Atlantic Records ming contribu- tions and thumb piano from Konono No.1. But as the hype escalated, the general senti- ment remained unchanged: There was absolutely no way anyone could successfully work with all of these artists and still release a coherent album. Except Bjork. Tracks slowly leaked onto the Internet while Bjork herself started posting the singles on her MySpace page. The first song to hit the web was Volta opener "Earth Intrud- ers." The track begins with the slow plodding of footsteps; the footsteps of Bjirk and the musical army behind her. She whispers, "We are the Earth intruders" over tribal drumbeats and soaring, oth- erworldly keyboards. She's laying the path for the rest of the album, warning the listener of the musical battleground ahead. Next, Bjork boasts the Timbal- and produced "Innocence." Remi- niscent of the electronics and pop sensibilities last seen on her pre- vious release, Post, it is the most accessible song on Volta. Timbaland's influence is instantly noticeable. The stop-and-go digital traffic jam carries Timbo's heavy kick- drum and staccato keyboards. As with most Bjork albums, the singles are only the tip of the iceberg. The indie croon- er Antony j Hegarty of Antony and the John- sons adds vocals on two differ- ent tracks, ' a;. "Dull Flame of Desire" and the album closer "My Juvenile." Bjork rarely workswithothersingers,especially male singers, but Hegarty's mellow cries meld perfectly with Bjdrk's overpowering voice on "Flame," as the back-and-forth between the two creates a tense dichotomy The singles are just the tip of the Iceland-berg. that crescendos with the building drums and regal horns. Bjirk continues with the delicate - "I See Who You Are," which has the same intro- ReA spective creativ- ity listeners have come to expect from her.She cries, *0-trl- "Let's cele- T - - i Ac brate now / Last Chance to prepare ft May 12 FAI P111-See BWORK, 800-2ReviI W Princet page 12 ' < -