bjorkbeck

Bjork's new album w/ Antony, Timbaland, Konono, & Lightning Bolt

Download Bjork – Who is It (Vitalic remix) (MP3)

Beck & Bjork
why Beck? Why not

I LOVE collaborations, especially (well, mainly) if they’re by artists I also love, and the idea of Antony and/or Bjork contributing to anything always gets me excited. Bjork & Antony BOTH appear on the last Matmos album, Bjork recently worked with Bonnie Prince Billy, and we even heard something back in July about Bjork working with Konono No 1.

Yesterday I posted something about Bjork collaborating with Timbaland on her new “hip hop” album. Coincidentally – just minutes later “meester fly” posted an official update on Bjork’s site (which i used to live on pre-pre-blogging days) that confirms this, Konono, and MORE:

It has not been snowing at all here, but today we are graced with snow. It is a few days after the hidden people and elves move home, if they have to. We are in Iceland. I arrived after a short absence of mind and body back into the HQ of the MWC. I got the word to get back on the case and gather some knowledge, as I of course, am truly the wise one.

Being the one and only I got sent new songs from Björk. These songs are to be on the new album she has been working on for the past months. She has been all around the world to record, working with numerous people from truly different background. I have been left with many thoughts after listening to these tracks, the first impression is that I want to hear more, as I did not get everything shortlisted for the record. It made me excited.

The only thing I have heard prior of the making of this new record was a collaboration with Timbaland was being penned in. They met for a couple of sessions and laid down some beats for two tracks, “then I took these tracks and worked on them further”, says Björk. This is true, as I hear that she has taken them to a another level.

We speak about the many collaborators on this record and the list is very interesting as Antony Hegerty duets on two tracks. Drummer Chris Corsano jumps into at least the 2 songs. New sounds and instrumentation are provided by Toumani Diabate who plays the Kora and Konono nr.1 with electric thumb pianos. More percussive delights come from Brian Chippendale from Lightning Bolt Great artists being drafted into the fold!

This list is very impressive and intriguing and from this first batch of song create a very unique sound and emotion. Nothing sounds really familiar about this experience, apart from the name of Mark Bell, him I know. And Sjón, turns to form to deliver one lyric, his 5th lyric since they started work together. This record is a Björk production par excellence. No stone left unturned to seek out the perfect pitch.

And more work is being done in the next few weeks on the new record. It has not got a name. The record is scheduled for late spring release. Some of us have wished to see Björk live in concert.

Well. Björk will be going on the road and giving us long wanted concert recitals. Yes gigging again. I get to see who is the band, I’ll be damned, I forgot. It is being finalised right now! From what I remember: We are in for a treat. I am promised to be there. Bien sur. Of-course. Að sjálfsögðu. More soon.”

A treat indeed.

I wonder if Bjork & Antony will show up at the Lightning Bolt show happening at Northsix on Sunday. (which is now old out)

Björk is also contributing vocals to Valgeir Sigurðsson‘s new album, titled ‘Equilibrium Is Restored’.” [Wikipedia]

Antony & The Johnsons play the Brooklyn Philharmonic on March 9th.

Konono No 1 play Bowery Ballroom on May 5th.

Previously
Timbaland a thief?
Sugarcubes reunion happened
Sugarcubes Reuniting for one show