Voltaïc
Box set by
Björk
Released23 June 2009
Recorded25 June 2007
(Olympic Studios)
25 June 2008
(Paris, France)
26 August 2007
(Reykjavík, Iceland)
VenueOlympia
(Paris, France)
Langholtskirkja
(Reykjavík, Iceland)
StudioOlympic Studios
Length89:19
Label
DirectorRussell Thomas (The Volta Tour)
Producer
  • Andy Derbyshire
  • Spin
(The Volta Tour)
Björk chronology
Volta
(2007)		 Voltaïc
(2009)		 Mount Wittenberg Orca
(2010)
CD edition
CD and DVD edition
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicCD [2]
CD–DVD [3]
2 CD + 2 DVD [4]
The A.V. ClubB+[5]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[6]
The New York Timesmixed[7]
Pitchfork5.2/10[8]
PopMatters[9]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[10]

Voltaïc is a 2009 compilation of material related to the 2007 album Volta by the Icelandic musician Björk. The full version of the release includes a CD of eleven songs performed live at the Olympic Studios, a DVD of Björk's live performances in Paris and Reykjavík during the Volta tour, a second DVD of the Volta music videos as well as videos of the top ten runners-up from the "Innocence" video contest, and a second CD of remixes from Volta's singles.[11] The worldwide release date of all editions was 23 June 2009.[12] The artwork was nominated for an award at the 2010 Brit Insurance Design Awards.[13]

Release history

The release was subject to numerous delays, mostly due to manufacturing problems. The first mention of the release of live material from the Volta tour was made through an announcement made on Björk's official website regarding a "Live Session Album" made at Olympic Studios, London.[14] This was then followed by online stores adding to their pages a release titled "Volta Revisited" in February 2008,[15] with projected (and incorrect) release dates of April/May 2008 listed. An email from Derek Birkett, head of One Little Indian, stated the proposed contents of the release, meant to 'tie-up' the Volta campaign. The release was originally not going to include a live DVD, but amongst those items that did not make the final release were the online blips made as part of the viral marketing campaign for Volta, the EPK interview that was used in the Volta podcasts available on the iTunes Store, and an unreleased "AOL Online session".[16]

Björk then filmed a concert at L'Olympia in Paris, France during the last leg of the Volta tour and a small concert in Reykjavík, Iceland straight after the tour had finished. The "Volta Revisited" collection eventually surfaced as Voltaïc and was to include a live DVD among 3 other discs, although manufacturing problems lead to a delay of up to six months for its release. One manufacturing error led to 20,000 copies of the box-set having to be destroyed, and with a remanufacture necessary, Björk decided to make changes to the track listing resulting in four songs being cut from the live DVD.[17] Towards the end of April 2009 Universal Europe accidentally shipped their copies of Voltaïc early. A statement released by One Little Indian stated that the projected release date was meant to be June 2009 as they wanted all three versions of Voltaïc to be available upon official release – the early shipment by Universal Europe was only of the Deluxe Edition. However, UK-based music retailer CD Wow was found to be for a brief period selling un-cut copies of the box set, before its official release.[18] These copies, which had allegedly been destroyed, were manufactured in Malaysia – and as such contained more tracks than the other released (cut) editions.[19] Voltaïc eventually enjoyed its full official release on 23 June 2009.

Björk was ill on the night of the Paris concert and later described the recording as being "quite traumatic" as her voice was not in good condition at this late point during the tour.[20] Because of this, some small parts of Björk's vocals in the Paris concert were edited in post-production, for example in the performance of "Where Is The Line".[21] The Reykjavík concert shows her voice in much better condition. It is notable that both "My Juvenile" and "Pneumonia" were only performed live during the Reykjavík concert – all the other songs were performed throughout the Volta tour.[22]

The originally announced track listing for the Voltaïc Live DVD contained more tracks than those which appear on the final release. "Triumph of a Heart" was cut from the Paris concert, while "Cover Me", "Immature", "It's Oh So Quiet", "Who is It?", "Sonnets/Unrealities XI" and "The Dull Flame of Desire" were cut from the Reykjavík concert.[23] Additional 'cut' songs were performed at each respective concert but were never featured on any track lists for the box-set, e.g. "Oceania".[24] "Brennið Þið Vitar" is the walk-in played by the brass band, and is a traditional Icelandic choral piece.[25]

Theatre screenings

Voltaïc was screened at fifteen theatres throughout the USA to coincide with the North American release on 23 June 2009.[12]

  • June 17 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
  • June 19, 20 Anchorage, AK Bear Tooth Theater
  • June 19–21 Portland, OR Hollywood Theatre
  • June 20 Philadelphia, PA 941 Theater
  • June 23 New York, NY School of Visual Arts Theater
  • June 23 Los Angeles, CA The Montalban Theater
  • June 23 Madison, WI The Orpheum Stage Door
  • June 23–28 Oxford, MS The Amp
  • June 23–28 Lake Geneva, WI Geneva Theater
  • June 24 Minneapolis, MN The Trylon Microcinema
  • June 26, 27 Seattle, WA Northwest Film Forum
  • June 26, 27 San Francisco, CA The Roxie
  • June 26, 27 Bellingham, WA Pickford Film Center
  • June 26, 27 New Orleans, LA Zeitgeist Arts Center
  • July 20 Austin, TX Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

Throughout July 2009 the concert was also shown twice weekly at the Háskólabíó theatre in Reykjavík.[26] Björk herself was present at the first screening.[27]

Formats

Voltaïc is released in five different editions:[28]

  • CD (the Olympic Studio session)
  • CD+DVD Deluxe Edition (containing the Volta Tour Live DVD and the Olympic Studio session on CD)
  • Standard/Limited Edition (containing the Volta Tour Live DVD, Volta Videos DVD, Olympic Studio session CD, and Volta Mixes CD)
  • Deluxe Vinyl Edition (3 vinyls, 2 CDs and 2 DVDs)

However, only the North American release (on Nonesuch Records) will feature all five different versions – the UK and European releases exclude the CD and CD+DVD editions.[29] Both CDs (Live CD and Remix CD) are also available as digital downloads.[30]

Track listing

Songs from the Volta Tour Performed Live at the Olympic Studios - CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wanderlust"
5:47
2."Hunter"Björk4:19
3."Pleasure Is All Mine"Björk3:20
4."Innocence"
4:00
5."Army of Me"
4:20
6."I Miss You"
3:30
7."Earth Intruders"
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
3:52
8."All Is Full of Love"Björk4:05
9."Pagan Poetry"Björk5:14
10."Vertebræ by Vertebræ"Björk5:09
11."Declare Independence"
4:18
12."My Juvenile" (North American iTunes Store exclusive[31])Björk3:51
The Volta Tour - DVD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Brennið Þið Vitar" (live in Paris) 4:23
2."Earth Intruders" (live in Paris)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
3:49
3."Hunter" (live in Paris)Björk4:19
4."Immature" (live in Paris)Björk2:58
5."Jóga (Video Versión)" (live in Paris)
3:18
6."Pleasure Is All Mine" (live in Paris)Björk3:40
7."Vertebræ by Vertebræ" (live in Paris)Björk4:48
8."Where Is the Line" (live in Paris)Björk5:00
9."Who Is It" (live in Paris)Björk3:57
10."Desired Constellation" (live in Paris)
2:58
11."Army of Me" (live in Paris)
  • Björk
  • Massey
4:47
12."Bachelorette" (live in Paris)
  • Björk
  • Sjón
5:17
13."Wanderlust" (live in Paris)
  • Björk
  • Sjón
5:47
14."Hyperballad" (live in Paris)Björk5:08
15."Pluto" (live in Paris)
  • Björk
  • Bell
4:01
16."Declare Independence" (live in Paris)
  • Björk
  • Bell
4:18
17."Pneumonia" (live in Reykjavík)Björk6:12
18."My Juvenile" (live in Reykjavík)Björk4:55
19."Vökuró" (live in Reykjavík)
  • Jórunn Viðar
  • Jakobína Sigurðardóttir
3:29
20."Sonnets/Unrealities XI" (live in Reykjavík)
1:45
21."Mouth's Cradle" (live in Reykjavík)Björk4:12
The Volta Videos - DVD
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Earth Intruders"Michel Ocelot 
2."Declare Independence"Michel Gondry 
3."Innocence"Fred & Annabelle 
4."Wanderlust"Encyclopedia Pictura 
5."The Dull Flame of Desire" (featuring Antony Hegarty)
  • Christoph Jantos
  • Masahiro Mogari
  • Marçal Cuberta Junca
 
6."The Making of Declare Independence" 05:31
7."The Making of Wanderlust" 04:23
8."Innocence"Davood Saghiri 
9."Innocence"Dimitri Stankowicz 
10."Innocence"Etienne Strube 
11."Innocence"Julien Himmer 
12."Innocence"Laurent Labouille 
13."Innocence"Mario Caporali 
14."Innocence"Mik o_o Armellino 
15."Innocence"
  • Renato Klieger
  • Terracotta
 
16."Innocence"Roland Matusek 
The Volta Mixes - CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Earth Intruders" (XXXChange remix)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
4:38
2."Innocence" (Simian Mobile Disco remix)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
7:47
3."Declare Independence" (Matthew Herbert remix)
  • Björk
  • Bell
5:23
4."Wanderlust" (Ratatat remix)
  • Björk
  • Sjón
5:26
5."The Dull Flame of Desire" (featuring Antony Hegarty; Modeselektor remix for girls)
6:19
6."Earth Intruders" (Lexx remix)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
6:41
7."Innocence" (Graeme Sinden remix)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
4:32
8."Declare Independence" (Ghostigital remix)
  • Björk
  • Bell
2:51
9."The Dull Flame of Desire" (Modeselektor remix for boys)
  • Björk
  • Tyutchev
5:24
10."Innocence" (Alva Noto Unitxt remodel)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
6:16
11."Declare Independence" (Black Pus remix; previously unreleased)
  • Björk
  • Bell
8:47
12."Innocence" (Simian Mobile Disco dub remix)
  • Björk
  • Timbaland
  • Danja
7:46

Charts

Chart (2008–09) Peak
position
Belgium Albums Chart[32] 80
Spanish DVD Chart[33] 9
U.S. Billboard 200[34] 118
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums 44

References

  1. ↑ "Voltaic [Live] by Björk". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. ↑ Voltaïc at AllMusic
  3. ↑ Voltaïc at AllMusic
  4. ↑ Voltaïc at AllMusic
  5. ↑ "Bjork: Voltaic". Avclub.com. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Voltaic". EW.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Bjork in Full-Throated Plumage, Jazz in a Calmer Key". The New York Times. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Björk: Voltaic Album Review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Björk: Voltaic". Popmatter.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: bjork". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  11. ↑ bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com / news – Voltaic Release Date June 23rd World Wide". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  12. 1 2 bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com / news – Bjork's 2008 Paris Concert TO Be Screened..." Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  13. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys and Bjork album covers nominated in 2010 Design Awards". NME. 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  14. ↑ bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com / news – EMA nomination and Live Album Sessions". Archived from the original on 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  15. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2008). "bjork.com/\/\unity – Volta Revisited". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com/\/\unity – NEW VOLTA RELEASE ???? 3 DISK EDITION ???!!!". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ bjork.com (2007). "bjork.com / news – Voltaic Release For June Unless..." Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  18. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com/\/\unity – The VOLTAIC Thread". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ thedvdforums.com (2009). "The DVD Forums – View Single Post – Bjork: Voltaic – New Album 23/03/09 (see post#90)". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  20. ↑ Interview Magazine, June 2009, xx, "Björk – xx", by xx.
  21. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2009). "disappointed with Voltaic!". Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com : gigOgraphy". Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  23. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com/\/\unity – The VOLTAIC Thread". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com : gigOgraphy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  25. ↑ blog.bjork.com (2009). "Brennið Þið Vitar The Journey Itself Is Home". Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  26. ↑ grapevine.is (2009). "The Reykjavik Grapevine / Read Article". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  27. ↑ eyjan.is (2009). "Eyjan > Björk fagnaði fullveldi Grænlands á frumsýningu tónleikamyndarinnar Volta". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  28. ↑ nonesuch.com (2009). ""Nonesuch Records to Release Björk's Multimedia "Voltaic," June 30". Nonesuch Records. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  29. ↑ onelittleshop.com (2009). "One Little Indian". Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  30. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com/\/\unity – The VOLTAIC Thread". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ↑ 4um.bjork.com (2009). "bjork.com/\/\unity – The VOLTAIC Thread". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ↑ ultratop.be (2009). "ultratop.be – Björk – Voltaic". Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  33. ↑
  34. ↑ "Björk – Chart history". Billboard.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
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