Love her or loathe her, one thing you cannot accuse Bjork Guomondsdottir of is predictability. Since her musical inception with the Sugarcubes, way back in 1986 (yes, it was that long ago - the kooky popstrel turns 42 this year), Bjork's sound has consistently evolved and run its own extroverted course; indeed, if there was such a thing as a musical shapeshifter, the outlandish Icelandic minstrel would certainly be deemed one. Now back with her first studio album since 2004's vocal collection Medulla, Volta takes yet another giant leap sideways into a domain of eerie electronica. Bjork's collaborators on this record are as eclectic as they've always been, too; uber-producer Timbaland takes a break from Justin Timberlake's latest slick r 'n' b stylings to oversee three tracks here, while modern-day maestro Antony Hegarty lends his vocals to a brace, too. Opener and lead single Earth Intruders sets the extravagant pace nicely; it's a suitably weird, yet totally incredible number, with a demonic, robotic synth providing the link between Bjork's clipped vocals and a tribal drumming pattern (provided by Congoan group Konono No. 1) that sounds like a troupe of ants marching across a marsh. Volta is infused with similar bursts of colour and flamboyant imaginations throughout. Innocence's poppy, enthusiastic hip-hop edge squeaks and rips, bleeps and squawks with vocals that sound as fresh as ever; Vertebrae By Vertebrae is an unbearably tense and sinister composition that is almost Bond theme-esque, Wanderlust's drum 'n' bass undertones sit surprisingly well beside a mournful horn section as Bjork's still heavily-accented delivery keens 'I have lost my origin', and the gloopy, meditative and sensual I See Who You Are steers proceedings off course into an expanse of shamisen once more. The two Hegarty duets - The Dull Flame of Desire and minimal closer My Juvenile - are both gorgeous numbers that somehow see Bjork's breathy, disjointed vocals and Antony's smooth, warm croon entwine each other perfectly. Yes, you can love her or loathe her; but Volta once again attests to the fact that after over twenty years in the business, there is at least one Icelandic eccentric that is still pushing boundaries, taking leaps and experimenting with new ideas.
