The Thrill Of Fear

I did something with Björk‘s new album Volta that I haven’t done in a long time: I didn’t download a leaked copy or receive an advance cd, and I bought it the day it came out in a record store. I did that for three reasons:

1) Novelty and nostalgia. I still buy cds here and there, but it’s been quite a while since I purchased one without being extremely well acquainted with its contents. In fact, Björk’s 2001 album Vespertine was among the last that I experienced without knowing exactly what I was getting into. I suspect that my disappointment with that record had a lot to do with feeling burned by my monetary investment — for the longest time, I only really liked “Hidden Place,” “Unison,” and “Cocoon,” but I’ve recently discovered that I do enjoy at least three or four others from that album, and hey, Medulla isn’t so bad either. It’s my fault, really — I was being arrogant and stubborn, and I made no effort to meet her halfway when it became clear that she wasn’t going to give me exactly what I wanted.

2) It didn’t leak in full until very late in the game. I can hold out for a couple weeks, but ultimately, my will is not very strong.

3) I was thoroughly wowed by the songs I heard in advance of its release. Since I wasn’t very into Medulla or Vespertine, my expectations were fairly low — all I was hope for was at least a couple good upbeat dancey numbers. My wish was granted immediately: “Earth Intruders” rekindled my faith in her and prompted me to reexamine the previous two albums, and “Innocence” surpassed my wildest dreams by being more or less EXACTLY what I’ve been wanting from her for all this time. “Wanderlust” didn’t leave a strong first impression when I saw her perform it on Saturday Night Live, but the youtube clip of the aggressive electro-punk number “Declare Independence” from Coachella kinda blew my mind.

Now that I have the record and have been listening to it for a couple days, I’m fairly certain that those are the four best cuts on Volta, but I’m not at all disappointed about that. How could I be? Those four songs are brilliant, and some of the best material that anyone has released this year. The other selections aren’t bad, either — “Vertebrae By Vertebrae” and “I Know Who You Are” have their charm, and I’m learning to appreciate “The Dull Flame Of Desire” and “My Juvenile” despite the mildly aggravating presence of Antony Hegarty. Volta may not be on the same level of consistent greatness as Debut, Post, or Homogenic, but it’s a strong piece of work, and a welcome return to eclecticism after two albums that were weakened somewhat by their adherence to gimmicky high concepts.

Björk “Innocence” – As I mentioned earlier, “Innocence” is the song I’ve been wanting from Björk for a long time now, and I suppose what I mean is that musically and lyrically, it is basically the third part of a trilogy which also includes my two favorite tracks in her discography, “Big Time Sensuality” and “Alarm Call.” This is the Björk that I love the most: Upbeat, courageous, optimistic, and in full control of her neuroses. “Big Time Sensuality” confronts the future with enthusiasm, “Alarm Call” is defiantly unafraid of the world and its inhabitants, and “Innocence” conquers fear by embracing its thrill. The message is essentially the same in each song, but her authority increases as she goes along — “Big Time Sensuality” is a youthful song about faith and risk, and “Innocence” has the perspective to understand the mechanics of overcoming anxiety. Whereas her declarations in “Alarm Call” seem like surprising self-revelations, her words in “Innocence” seem directed outside of herself, as a bit of advice for the listener. It’s Björk in life coach mode: “neurosis only attaches itself to fertile ground where it can flourish;” “fear is a powerful drug — overcome it and you think you can do anything!;” “fear of losing energy is draining.” The best thing is that she’s absolutely correct, and though she is extraordinarily hopeful in her encouragement, she doesn’t lose sight of the immense difficulty and painful work involved in fighting our worst impulses. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)