Björk "Telegram"

After "Debut" we got five singles, "Vessel", two limited 10-inch-vinyls and the 6-track-single "The best mixes from the album Debut for all the people who don't buy white labels". After "Post" we got five singles, "The Post book", four limited 12-inch-vinyls and now the 10-track- album "Telegram". "Telegram" is the logic follow-up to "The best mixes from the album Debut for all the people who don't buy white labels". Don't mistake it to be Björk's third solo-album for God's sake! If I should compare "Telegram" to "The best mixes etc" then there's no doubt "Telegram" is much better. "The best mixes etc" only contained remixes of four songs and it seemed to be concentrating on Björk's ambient works. "Telegram" contains remixes of nine songs and it has got both harmonic remixes and distorted ones. The tracks on "Telegram" are not just more varied, the quality is also a lot better. What most people are disappointed about is probably the fact that seven out of ten tracks has been released earlier on singles and limited 12-inch-vinyls. The three new tracks are the least interesting ones so you should take a proper look at the track-list before you decide to buy this album. Six tracks out of ten are fantastic works and listening to them every day has become a natural thing in my life, like taking a shower in the evening or having breakfast every morning. They should be in your collection some way, even if not on this album. Take a look at the track-list below to find out what tracks I mean.

Short descriptions of every track:

1. "Possibly maybe (Lucy mix)"
Remixed by LFO. Taken from the One Little Indian-release "Possibly maybe"

This is something you just got to hear to understand. A dark and raw remix with a sacking beat, a haunting keyboard and an amazing voice-distortion. It's a lot more "underground" than the original version, in fact a lot more "underground" than any other track on this album. Björk has changed a few tunes in the song and that has changed the whole mood in the song from sad to a little bit happier. The change of lyrics is also interesting. The original version ends with "Since we broke up, I'm using lipstick again, I suck my tongue, in remembrance of you". That line is very necessary cause it symbolizes a new beginning after a broken love-affair, but this remix starts with "Since we broke up etc" and ends with "How can you offer me love like that, I'm exhausted, leave me alone". It's interesting 'cause that gives the song a sad ending instead of a hopeful one.

2. "Hyperballad (Brodsky quartet version)"
Remixed by Brodsky quartet. Taken from the One Little Indian-release "It's oh so quiet"

The album couldn't have a better start. After one of my favorite remixes it goes on with my favorite remix. "Hyperballad" performed by a string-quartet. Except from on this album, you only hear songs like this one in your most beautiful dreams.

3. "Enjoy (Further over the edge mix)"
Remixed by Outcast productions. New song.

The name says it all. This remix is a further development of "Hyperballad (Over the edge mix)". Björk's voice has been cut to pieces and thrown over the filthiest and most distorted drums ever (Front 242's drum-sound in "Religion (Pussy whipped mix)" included). Just "Enjoy (Over the edge mix)" would have been a better name.

4. "My spine"
Taken from the One Little Indian-release "It's oh so quiet"

Except from the rest of the tracks on this album, this song's not a remix, it's one of the "Post"-B-sides. Björk is singing along to an exhaust pipe. The Gudmundsdóttir-vocalizations are excellent but that bloody exhaust-pipe is extremely annoying. I think "Charlene" or "Sweet, sweet intuition" would have fitted a lot better in here. Or maybe, they could have made a keyboard-version of this song....

5. "I miss you (Doubie's rap part 1/ The sunshine mix)"
Remixed by Doubie. Taken from One Little Indian-release "Possibly maybe" (limited vinyl-release)

Another one of the album's high-lights. "I miss you" has been transformed into something soul/hip hop-like with a sampled piano in the background. This remix hasn't got much in common with the original version. It's a bit sacking, not hysteric at all. Björk's vocals has been re-recorded and in the end she's singing in her very beautiful, native language. Björk's going further over the edge with this remix, it doesn't sound like any other Björk- song or remix. The only thing I don't like with this remix is the rapper who interrupts Björk for about 20 seconds.

6. "Isobel (Deodato mix)"
Remixed by Eumir Deodato. Taken from the One Little Indian-release "Isobel"

This sounds like the "Unplugged"-version of "Isobel". No synthesizers or drum-machines spotted anywhere. Eumir Deodato, who arranged the strings for the original version has re-arranged the strings and the result is even better this time. It's just a pity they replaced the dub-rhythm with ordinary drums and the keyboards with acoustic guitars.

7. "You've been flirting again (Flirt is a promise mix)"
Remixed by Björk. Taken from the One Little Indian-release "It's oh so quiet"

"You've been flirting again (Flirt is a promise mix)" is one of the most experimental remixes around. It starts as an atmosphere containing a few tunes but suddenly it bursts out into a string-arrangement that sounds like it was taken from a romantic movie from the 50ths. The idea is brilliant and the result too.

8. "Cover me (Dillinja mix)"
Remixed by Dillinja. Taken from the One Little Indian-release "Possibly maybe"

Just what you might have expected. A jungle-remix. One of the grooviest bass-lines around, a drum-machine running in 180 BPM and a lot of nice samples. An adorable remix, though Björk's voice is drowning in all the samples.

9. "Army of me (Masseymix)"
Remixed by Graham Massey. New song.

A hysteric techno-remix with hardly any vocal-efforts at all. Björk's beautiful voice has been replaced with some "voodoo vibe guitar"-efforts from Graham Massey. Sounds cool about two minutes then it just becomes repetitive. The statesman disappointed me this time.
10. "Headphones (Ö remix)"
Remixed by Mika Vainio. New song.

A totally unnecessary remix, since it just sounds more ambient than the original version.