Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Bjork ~ Red Rocks ~ 5/15/2007

Wow. Bjork takes the stage in a rainbow dress, elf slippers, black tights, and warrior makeup, accompanied by a 10 piece all female Icelandic Brass section, a keyboard player, a drum set player, and 2 electronic percussionists.

Opened with "Earth Intruders" from her latest album, Volta. (Which is MOST DEFINITELY worth listening to.) The show varied between intense, pulsing bursts of rhythym, brass, and vocals, and more delicate moments of just vocals and minimalist keyboards. Bjork's voice was in FINE form, she was never noticeably out of breath or struggling with the altitude.

None of the brass players were featured in any solo capacity, except for one brief trumpet solo at the end of "I Miss You." Decent, but couldn't compare to the screaming high end chops of the player on the studio version. They played very well as a section though, and the horns were added to the arrangements in creative, sometimes surprising ways. As a horn player myself, I loved it.

Some other highlights were a very inventive interpretation of "Venus as a Boy", "Wanderlust"(another from the new album), a grinding, industrial "Army of Me", and "Hyper-Ballad." The show ended with a brash, feedbacky, distorted "Declare Indepedence"... Which was a perfect end to a great show.

Declare Independence! Don't let them do that to you!
Raise your Flag! (Higher & Higher!)
Raise your Flag! (Higher & Higher!)

Nice review Sir Les!

My wife has this to add:

She also performed "5 Years" from Homogenic which rocked! Bjork's voice is amazing.

Hell Yes !!!!
I love Bjork
can`t wait to see her

I saw her and her band perform "Earth Intruders" on SNL, and I thought they were terrific. I'm sure the Red Rocks show was a blast.

Terry - she's at the Gorge next weekend. . .

She makes me happy

a grinding, industrial "Army of Me"

sounds nice. bjork is a freak of the highest degree!

saw her in NYC two weeks ago and it wuz pretty amazing as usual

She is a treasure

There's a club in SF, Trannyshack, that does a Bjork night...this coming wednesday, and she'll be in town, there's strong rumors that she's gonna be there...something about auctioning her swan dress for charity. I'm not really into her but I might check it out Sounds like it could be a wild night!

the brass arrangements on the CD are absolutely fantastic. tone quality and dynamics are right on and make the songs they are included in complete. i love that she arranged all the brass too. just another testament to her talent as a musican. the songs sound like ballads that a drum and bugle corp would play. i wish i could see it live and have them blow my face off.

Yawn.

I saw her 9 years ago in Stockholm (during their "water festival"). I didn't really know what to expect. She played with a 3 piece band (cello, viola, bass?). I was amazed that this little elf could produce such a massive sound. I liked her style very much.
Thanks for the review. I'd love to catch her again.