What Björk fans might not have expected from Volta is what some have perceived as embarrassingly political lyrical content. “Earth Intruders,” the album’s intro track, is a playful, yet determined march, announcing the arrival of an army that will fight some amorphous source of turmoil and carnage. It seems to me much more about humanitarianism than politics, a sort of universal parallel to “Army of Me.” “Declare Independence,” a spastic rally cry for independence and justice, does specifically target colonists as a source of oppression, but who really considers that political any more, even if taken literally?
The song that has stirred the most controversy is “Hope,” which poses several moral questions regarding a suicide bomber who may or may not be pregnant, and may or may not hit her target. The tranquil indigenous percussion and melodic arrangement of Eastern strings should tip off the listener that the underlying question is a philosophical one, pointing to the fact that most of the world’s problems are steeped in moral subjectivity. The song’s conclusion steers completely away from politics, hailing love as the highest universal moral law.
Open wide for the Volta pod: It may not be candy, and it may not be FDA approved, but like other alarmingly colorful organisms that you might encounter in nature, it’s too intriguing to pass up, and you should probably just eat it.
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