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March 23, 2007

Björk's Volta Cover

Björk.com's got the goods for our massive graphic designer contingent. Feast your eyes on the cover of Volta.

An artistic depiction loosely based on reality, eh?

Like we have to ask.

Posted at 2:07 PM
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42 Comments

Oh my word, that's a fucking nutty-looking cover. I don't like it - just have her write Volta in permanent marker over her "Medulla" cover.

Posted by: Christopher at 03/23/07 5:02 PM  | Reply
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I would've done without the flames.

Posted by: bob at 03/23/07 5:59 PM  | Reply
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Uh. Yeah. It's no Homogenic, is it?

Posted by: Mr. Negative at 03/23/07 6:04 PM  | Reply
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freakin' awesome!

Posted by: its ummmm.... at 03/23/07 6:14 PM  | Reply
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Wow, I normally love all of Bjork's album art but that's one ugly ass cover

Posted by: Oliver at 03/23/07 6:17 PM  | Reply
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THE FLAMES SPELL VOLTA!!!

Posted by: jarts at 03/23/07 6:27 PM  | Reply
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that's actually not the cover. i've seen the real one and it's WAY crazier. trust me.

Posted by: merritt at 03/23/07 7:13 PM  | Reply
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Are you all completely high?

That picture is fucking awesome!

Posted by: tweekin jay at 03/23/07 7:20 PM  | Reply
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An authoritative source says that this is almost certainly not the cover. And some Photoshop sleuthing of a hi-res version I have reveals a hastily erased/blurred object between her hands, as well as a window or some object off to the left. Most of the surrounding environment has been blacked-out, as well. This font will most likely be used, as it appears to be the work of M/M Paris, with whom Björk has worked before.

Also, those flames are clearly a Photoshop effect. Before there was a "Björk" added to the top, there was a version of this image with only the photo and the flames, and if you'll notice, the flames have been formed with the intention of spelling out not only "Volta" but "björk" on top of the T in Volta. Not even the most retarded artist would put the artist's name on the album cover twice. Björk-related art/aesthetic is quite ordered and intelligent.

Posted by: Nick at 03/23/07 7:59 PM  | Reply
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I want to do acid.

Posted by: starkravingblack at 03/23/07 9:44 PM  | Reply
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If it's fake why would Bjork's own website use the image to crosspromote her forthcoming tourhere - http://www.bjork.com/news/?id=616;year=2007

Posted by: starkravingblack at 03/23/07 9:47 PM  | Reply
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It's not fake. It's just a secondary shot of the photoshoot. The photographer (presumably Inez van Lamsveerde or whatever) is doing a frontal shot of her. The thing you have to realize is that the webmasters of bjork.com are a different entity from her management, etc. While the promotional material is being produced and post-produced, there is often the necessity for some sort of image to accompany minor promotion or press releases. Since the last promotional photography for Björk was for Drawing Restraint 9, someone on the scene had to divulge some record of the new direction. It's just that the finished products are ready for release. It's just a teaser. This may not, in fact, be the outfit she wears on the cover.

Posted by: Nick at 03/23/07 9:58 PM  | Reply
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This is Bjorn.
Have you hippers never heard of typo errata? That is my album cover, for the album of music I am making mostly out of flames, for the burning inside me. The image is modern, and I believe in the future with yours.
I am Bjorn, and you will hear me.

Regrads,

Bjorn

Posted by: bjorn at 03/24/07 12:27 AM  | Reply
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It's kind of unappealing. Even without the VOLTA flames it still looks like she rolled through my grandmother's crochet basket. WITH the flames it looks like she did so on fire.

Posted by: sean at 03/24/07 12:26 PM  | Reply
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I posted this picture on my blog tuesday and the French label confirmed that this visual is a teaser and will appear inside the sleeve.
Go to my site to see a video of Bjork singing "No Limit" by 2Unlimited in a Paris club two weeks ago!

Posted by: Miss Selector at 03/24/07 2:20 PM  | Reply
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as far as i'm concerned, thats one of the best album covers i've ever seen.

Posted by: frankie at 03/24/07 3:19 PM  | Reply
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this was a very disappointing article in comparison to the title: I thought that Bjork had covered a song by the Mars Volta!

Posted by: Nathan at 03/24/07 6:08 PM  | Reply
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Love the art, hate the artist

Posted by: CBD at 03/24/07 6:51 PM  | Reply
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i thought this was a joke the first time i saw it

Posted by: James at 03/24/07 10:25 PM  | Reply
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She is way too fucking weird.

Posted by: Kurt at 03/24/07 11:15 PM  | Reply
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WTF!!?? Why does her face look chalked on? That is NOT an attractive cover.

Posted by: Ling at 03/24/07 11:35 PM  | Reply
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I'd still do her.

Posted by: Senor Dingdong at 03/25/07 9:29 AM  | Reply
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Seriously, you all must be huffing paint fumes.

That picture rules your fucking world!

Posted by: tweekin jay at 03/25/07 11:27 AM  | Reply
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it surprizes me that alot of people on this post dont like the cover or like her, im starting to think more and more that the people that look at this blog arent as smart as i once thought,clearly anyone who as absorbed a ton of music can see why she is so special, maybe some of you should be hanging out at TMZ.com

Posted by: justin kelly at 03/25/07 1:37 PM  | Reply
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Fuck yeah, justin kelly, that's what I'm talking about.

These motherfuckers wouldn't know good music if it bit them on the dick.

Posted by: tweekin jay at 03/25/07 7:14 PM  | Reply
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So, not liking an album cover makes people unintelligent? Good to know. Here I thought aesthetics were subjective.

Posted by: sean at 03/26/07 12:01 AM  | Reply
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I think it looks cool.

Posted by: zuzz at 03/26/07 3:01 AM  | Reply
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aesthetics are totally subjective, its just obvious that bjork has hit the nail on the head over and over , and yes sometimes i do think that if one cannot capture the essense that is constantly spilling from her work than yeah one might be inclined to question your intelligence (musical intelligence at least)

Posted by: justin kelly at 03/26/07 11:14 AM  | Reply
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I thought she was wearing fire at first.
I didn't see the title written in flames (lame).

But you know, Bjork, you should wear fire.
You'd wear fire really well.
Dance in it and sing in it.
In fire.
Fire could be the new microfiber.
Fire could be the Balenciaga.
So, Bjork, wearing fire is perfect for you.
Wear fire to an awards show.

And when is this month's box set coming out?
It could be packaged in fire, maybe!

Posted by: Michael at 03/26/07 3:36 PM  | Reply
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Two people walk into a Virgin Megastore...

1: "Hey I want to get that new Bjork box set"
2: "Oh! snap!! Me too. I only got a couple of last year's box sets of
hers. I REALLY NEED this one bad, dude."
1. "Wonder where they keep it?"
2. "Maybe there's a Bjork box set section now?"
1: "Oh wait, I smell something..."
2: "Oh man, YESSSS! Smells like Bjork!"
1: "Over there! Fast! I see some smoke!"
2. "We're here! Oh man I'm so happy to get this month's Bjork
Box set including one only twice released demo and a new
booklet and some of her hits and this AMAZING limited fire
packaging.!"
1: "Only a genius would package their rad box set in fire."
2: "Only an Icelandic genius would, dude!"
1. "Get two of 'em man... OW DAMN that's freakin' hot"
2. "Um, yeah... it's fire!
1. "Guess we have to suffer for Bjork... grab them and run... One,
two,..."
2. "NOW, the firetrucks are here. HURRY!"
1. "Crap, the man doesn't understand art at all. RUN!"

Posted by: Michael at 03/26/07 3:48 PM  | Reply
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Hello there. Bjork.com here. Never was it claimed on our humble site that this was the album cover, for the fine reason that it, to the extent of our knowledge, it will not be. This is a shot from a promotional shoot by Inez & Vinoodh. The album cover will be another colour-explosion entirely (barring, of course, that what the album credit currently states is untrue) by another photographer. Wait you and see. All in due time. :)

Posted by: MWC at 03/26/07 5:14 PM  | Reply
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mwc: there will be fire? i knew it.

Posted by: Michael at 03/26/07 5:28 PM  | Reply
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Ahhh, I always enjoy absolute statements rife with condescension when talking about subjective concepts such as music and art.

'You don't like Bjork or her album cover art? DIE PUNY BRAINED SIMPLETON!'

Posted by: sean at 03/26/07 6:33 PM  | Reply
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Nice post Sean, but does it come with a dirty dick?

Posted by: tweekin jay at 03/26/07 8:04 PM  | Reply
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Nice post Sean, especially the "absolute" part. Har/har.

Posted by: Michael at 03/26/07 9:14 PM  | Reply
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Sean, what does "absolute statements" mean? Do you even know?

Posted by: James at 03/26/07 9:23 PM  | Reply
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god help us i hope the cover is better than that. amateurish at best.

Posted by: Rena at 03/26/07 9:24 PM  | Reply
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Actually, it is probably the cover of Volta.

Posted by: MWC at 03/27/07 5:28 PM  | Reply
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Well James, what I meant by 'absolute statement' was a statement made by someone who no longer believes their stated opinion is subject to question. So it's no longer a matter of 'I like this' or 'I don't like this'; rather, it becomes a matter of 'IF you don't like this, you are unintelligent' or 'IF you do like this, you are smart'. The statement (containg the opinion) is now an absolute with the only variable being your relative position in regard to it.

I suppose it's more like a loaded statement but I made it up on the fly and it seemed to cover what I was talking about.

Posted by: sean at 03/29/07 12:58 PM  | Reply
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stereogum shags sheep :D

Posted by: MWC at 03/31/07 6:57 PM  | Reply
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as a member of mensa(TM) i say she looks genius! i think she looks rad. radder than you guys. maybe that's why you are a big fat fatty nobody. peace.

Posted by: miles at 07/02/07 2:18 PM  | Reply
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Es un buen disco y si es el cover de latinoamerica me cago en que no tiene librito pero bueno no me arrepiento igual de habermelo comprado simplemente estoy enamorado de mi viejita Björk

Posted by: Juan at 12/04/07 6:21 PM  | Reply
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