Bjork
Telegram


3.5
great

Review

by dylantheairplane USER (70 Reviews)
December 22nd, 2013 | 13 replies


Release Date: 1997 | Tracklist

Review Summary: The Anti-Remix Album

In 1995 Bjork blew the lid off the pop music scene with her album Post. An album that began as a solid sophomore release from the eccentric singer has evolved to legendary status as one of the greatest pop albums of all time. While looking back now, selecting Bjork’s “best” album of her current seven could be argued for hours, but at the time Post was her crowning achievement. Blending styles of alternative rock, trip hop, electronic, pop and even jazz, one of the most interesting albums of the 90’s was born.

Often brushed under the rug though is Post’s sister album, Telegram. In Bjork’s words, “Telegram is really Post as well but all the elements of the songs are just exaggerated. It's like the core of Post. That's why it's funny to call it a remix album, it's like the opposite.” And while the album is a collection of Post remixes and one B-side, it certainly doesn’t play like a remix album, featuring as much diversity as the original work. The issue is though when you exaggerate specific elements of a song, a lot of the more subtle moments get drowned out or completely extinguished. The remix of Enjoy suffers from this greatly. The remix is a total onslaught of brutal synth clashes and bass drum leaving but little room for vocals or much of anything else. While an interesting listen at first, it grows very tiresome after repeated listens.

Some tracks do in fact benefit greatly from this exaggerated remix style though. Specifically the first remix of I Miss You that is presented strips back the album version’s lush instrumentation and turns the song in to a mellow beat that fully embodies the state of the 90’s trip hop scene at the time. The track even features a brief rap by an uncredited vocalist. This song represents what the rest of Telegram should have been: it does not detract nor add to the original version of the song, but instead creates a new dimension to the track. The same could be said for the Hyperballad mix as well, featuring nothing but Bjork’s fantastic vocals and an orchestral accompaniment by the Brodsky Quartet, crafting a beautiful new take on an already incredible song.

For every good track though, there is an inferior one as well. The album opener, a Possibly Maybe remix is actually not far short of terrible, featuring vocals edited to the point of sheer annoyance. Then the Headphones remix, a song that is already the weakest on the mother album Post, consists of six minutes of near silence, containing just one line of vocals turned to minimal volume, hidden underneath just the slightest quiver of drone taking up the rest of the song.

The album’s real crown jewel though is the B-side, My Spine featuring the percussionist Evelyn Glennie. The song was originally intended to be on Post but got cut in favor of Enjoy. My Spine is a fabulous stripped back song consisting solely of Glennie’s fabulous percussion on lush bells and Bjork’s fabulous vocals singing beautifully written lyrics and showcasing her now classic growl.

When it comes down to it, Telegram is a fine collection, truly playing like a solid body of work rather than a menagerie of remixes strung together. To pass of Telegram as an equal to Post though is simply silly. While the album certainly is worth a listen it will serve as nothing but a support beam to the true crowing achievement that is Post.



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user ratings (92)
3.4
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
dylantheairplane
December 22nd 2013


2181 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This was in need of a review. And this album really is more like a 3.0 or possibly even a 2.5.......but 3.5 it is because of My Spine, and I mean, it's Bjork. A 2.5 feels like an insult to royalty.

bach
December 22nd 2013


16342 Comments


Haven't heard this one yet. But, yeah hail Queen Bjork.

Necrotica
December 22nd 2013


10693 Comments


Sweet review. Still haven't listened to this, which is weird considering how big of a Bjork fanboy I am

dylantheairplane
December 22nd 2013


2181 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

The album really is worth a listen if you love Post as much as I do (my favorite album by her, unless it's winter of course then it's Vespertine). It's just one of those albums that's better for background music while studying or something.

Chrisjon89
December 22nd 2013


3833 Comments


good review. gotta check this and Selmasongs.

Pestiferouss
December 22nd 2013


269 Comments


eee actually own this one physically it's good stuff

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
December 22nd 2013


10937 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Good review, pos.



Good remix album, but a bit too listener-unfriendly for its own good.

PresidentBillClinton
December 22nd 2013


34 Comments


Bjork is weird but I would still bang her.

KILL
December 22nd 2013


81580 Comments


never dug this

dylantheairplane
December 22nd 2013


2181 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I pretty much only come back for the I Miss You remix anymore because I have a soft spot for 90's rap/triphop haha

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
August 9th 2018


32179 Comments


Revisiting this, some of the new "remixes" are so good. Post was indeed a hell of an album.

combustion07
November 5th 2018


12822 Comments


Blind bought this and only really dug the song with the real heavy bass hits. Hopefully it'll grow on me. Had no idea this was a remix album.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
November 5th 2018


32179 Comments


A tasty remix album, specifically.



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