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Telegram is the first remix album by Icelandic musician Björk, released on 5 November 1996 on One Little Indian.
Background[edit]
Björk released her third studio album Post in July 1995. Mostly produced by Björk and Nellee Hooper, the set explored an eclectic range of genres, such as jazz, electronica and trip-hop. It enjoyed positive reviews and shipped three million copies. Following the release of Post's lead single "Army of Me", the possibility of a Post remix album started being mentioned, for which One Little Indian announced a tentative release in 1996. The project was referenced by Björk in several 1995 interviews, such as with Q, where it was said to include six tracks of Post, "performed by a variety of musicians."[1] According to the artist, the recording of Post saw her working on various versions of a song simultaneously. The artist would envision potential remixers to work on the songs, saying, "I would think 'O.K., this guy could do a brilliant remix... like go that way with the song which means I could go completely the other way with it."[2]
The first contact Björk had with remixing was when she moved to London in 1993, establishing ties with the local club culture.[3] She expressed in a Billboard interview that remixing required "creativity and experimentation", lamenting that its results were often seen as low-quality products with commercial intentions, which she affirmed were opposite to the nature of Telegram.[4][5] Describing remixing as a "modern way of working", she added, "It would not be honest for me to make a drum n' bass record. It's not where I came from. (...) But I can go to a drum n' bass person and say, "Hello, my name is Björk, this is my voice and my song,' and they can make what they want from it.[6] She confessed she "felt liberated and honored by the results" found in Telegram.[5] The artwork featured on the cover and inner sleeve of Telegram was shot by Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki.[7]
Composition[edit]
Björk stated that she devised "the kind of record I'd listen to in my own house"; she has deemed it the "core" of Post and characterised it as "stark" and "naked".[4][8] She confessed she "felt liberated and honored by the results" found in the remix album.[5] Alongside the remixes found in the album, it contains a new song titled "My Spine".[5] The song, a collaboration between Björk and British percussionist Evelyn Glennie, was recorded spontaneously at the latter's home, in 1994, and was mostly improvised.[9]
Release and promotion[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| The A.V. Club | (mixed)[11] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Spin | (7/10)[13] |
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Maconie, Stuart (31 July 1995). "All Together Now". Q. ASIN B003ZBKRPY.
In fact, a project called Telegram is under development, whereby six of the songs from Post will be performed by a variety of musicians, including Evelyn Glennie.
- ^ Harrison, Andrew (1 November 1996). "Living In The Shadow Of The Bomb". Mixmag. pp. 83–86.
- ^ Punter, Jennie (17 January 1997). "Björk's music mixes technology and artistry". Toronto Star.
- ^ a b "Björk in not bonkers shock". Melody Maker. 14 December 1996.
- ^ a b c d Flick, Larry (28 July 2001). "Björk Mixes It Up With Past Cuts On 'Telegram'". Billboard. p. 29. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
mixmag12was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Biesenbach, Klaus. "björk: a song of fire and ice". Dazed. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016.
- ^ "The Bomb Changed My Life". Blah Blah Blah. 30 November 1996.
- ^ Pytlik, p. 187, 2003
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Björk – Telegram at AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ a b Thompson, Stephen. "Björk: Telegram". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan (November 2004). "Björk". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Rolling Stone. p. 3.
- ^ Hannaham, James (March 1997). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 12, no. 12. pp. 101–102. ISSN 0886-3032.
- ^ Woodard, Josef (17 January 1997). "Telegram". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Smaegghe, I. (30 November 1995). "Björk - Telegram". Les Inrockuptibles. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Anderson, Kyle (9 September 2010). "Bjork, Telegram". Wondering Sound. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas (March 1997). "Björk / Telegram / Elektra". CMJ New Music Monthly. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Charles (9 January 1997). "Sorry no more". Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Kelly, Christina (3 January 1997). "Telegram". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Hannaham, James (March 1997). "Björk – Telegram". Spin. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Pytlik, 2003, p. 110
Bibliography[edit]
- Pytlik, Mark. Björk: Wow and Flutter. ECW Press. ISBN 1-550225-56-1.
- Brackett, Nathan (November 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Rolling Stone. p. 3.