After releasing two completely introverted works (2001's serene Vespertine and 2004's sorely overlooked masterpiece Medulla) Iceland's most popular export returns with Volta, an album promised from Bjork herself to be more outgoing and embraceable.

Though Volta does a have accessible moments, I certainly wouldn't deem it listener-friendly in the same sense as earlier records such as Debut, Post and Homogenic. Frankly it's so lacking in any kind of cohesion that it has the feel of a random collection of unreleased tracks. It's just all over the place. Opener "Earth Intruders" finds Bjork riding mega-producer Timbaland's beats over African rhythms of the Congolese group Konono No. 1 with winning results. Also on the approachable side of the ledger are "I See Who You Are," "Hope" and "My Juvenile" - all of which are wonderful as well with Bjork using Asian string-work to accompany her powerful verse. Still, without a doubt, the centerpiece of Volta is the epic seven and a half minute "Dull Flame of Desire," a duet with Antony and the Johnsons' Antony Hegarty with entrancing drum-work from Avant-Noise group Lighting Bolt's Brian Chippendale. This is fine stuff and for some may justify the purchase price on it's own. Antony is a singular talent and makes "Desire" reminiscent of the superb duet "I Have Seen It All" which united rock royalty Bjork and Thom Yorke on 2000's Selmasongs.

Sadly the other half of the record mars Volta in a huge way. (Sorry) Despite several highlights, the overall verdict finds Volta Bjork's weakest output of her long and illustrious career. "Innocence" is the second part of the Timbaland project that just doesn't fit quite right and lyrically "Declare Independence" is one of the most grating songs Bjork has ever committed to tape. I'm all for protest songs, but it's completely obvious after one listen that it's not her strong suit. Overall Volta, like all of Bjork's albums, does have plenty to recommend it, but disappointingly it's also her most inconsistent and mediocre record to date.