Customer Reviews

Joga

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1. Joga(Howie B. Main Mix)-This track is a variation on the album version with very few minor differences (namely extra beats and a few new noises at the end). The beats are more "thumping" than on the album version, but the strings are retained so it sounds just as beautiful.
2. Joga(String & Vocal Mix)-This is basically an orchestral version of the album track. very nice.
3. Joga(Buzz Water Mix)-a toned down mix. Mostly vocals and some soothing keyboard and distant beats (which you can barely hear, sounds like when someone is wearing headphones and you can barely hear the beat of the song they're listening to). Further into the song, they put in a kind of annoying noise.
4. All Is Full Of Love(Choice Mix)-This is the album version without the harpsichord. I bet the majority of people couldn't tell the difference though.
5. Joga(Album Version)
6. Sod Off-WONDERFUL non-album track with very powerful strings. This is Bjork putting her foot down.
7. Immature (Bjork's Version)-a very stripped down version of the album track except with newly recorded vocals. Think acapella with piano. I actually like this version a lot.
8. So Broken-another fantastic b-side. this one features acoustic guitars. nice.
9. Joga(Alec Empire Mix)/10. Joga(Alec Empire Hardcore Mix/11. Joga(Alec Empire Hardcore Mix-all 3 of these sounded the same to me. It's basically just NOISE with scattered vocals. Ruines the song, totally useless.
So aside from the last 3 tracks and the unecessary "all is full of love" version, this CD is worth getting, mostly for the B-sides

Joga was the first song put to single-pressing from Homogenic. Oh boy, I got suckered into the $60 box set featuring all of these tracks plus a 3 minute video!!! Imagine my shock when I see this nifty EP compilation released months later to the music stores at a MUCH more palatable price. OUCH----

I give this CD four stars because even though this is a gorgeous song and there are some essential bjork bits on this disc, the first three mixes of Joga are EASY "mixes", not remixes. What you hear is the original song minus some of the percussion on this one, some more instrumentation subtracted on that other one .... The first three mixes are semi-naked versions of the song. Very easy and cheap to throw together to make a few extra bucks. You'd THINK you were getting a truly "DIFFERENT" treatment of the song rather than a gentle, bony one. The same is true for the All is Full of Love Choice Mix - subtract any sort of beat/percussive electronics from the original and there's your song. They are all beautiful and good but obviously so easy to produce that really they're just money-makers. This is not like the REmixing of old. Immature - if I remember correctly - is another stripped away version here...

Non-album tracks: Sod off is about heartbreak and release (a sad, angry "leave me alone!" song). So Broken with its flamenco guitar features Bjork singing and wailing and crying over lost love. Half of it is emotional babbling rather than lyrics because of the dejected emotion she's focused on conveying. Appropriate for a good heartfelt purge. It is only for those who really love Bjork though. These songs are so emotionally charged that unless you're trying to purge some similar emotion of your own, you might find them too depressing because of their saddened character.

And finally, the Joga/Alec Empire remixes! This was my first taste of Alec Empire and boy, did it disgust me! Now I own some of his other music!!! (including The Destroyer) "Digital Hardcore" - hyper crazy frenzied harsh techno ... so intense and noisy and still art ... I believe it's the II mix that I enjoy? -- Bjork essential. The other two remixes are very similar to it though, just not as artistically-arranged (which is another disappointment in terms of musical variety per dollar). But oh, those two Bachelorette Empire remixes from the box set - don't bother!!!

This contains ALL the remixes of jóga, and all the other songs from the three-part jóga single.
The howie b. remixes are great, the buzzwater remix is beauteous, the string and vocal mix is gloriously stripped down to its orchestral roots...and the original is the strikingly beautiful song we know and love...and the Alec Empire remixes are...Noisily energetic and gorgeous:>
The Choice mix of all is full of love, however, is unnecessary and without much discernable difference from the orignal at all. But besides all that, the extra songs, such as Björk's groovy, semi a-capella version of immature, the dramatic Sod Off, and the heartwrenching and beautiful So Broken, really aid in taking one on a glorious musical journey.
This is a great release no Björk fan should be without.

This little CD is a mini gem that comprises all of the Joga singles into one EP, if you will. There are 2 great mixes of Joga one is done by Howie B., the other is the Buzz Water mix. They are minimalistic mixes and are a nice counterpoint to the menace at the end of the album. The B-sides are of mixed quality. Sod Off is excellent in parts, but is incredibly grating in others, the song is a puzzler. So Broken is a guitar driven song that has Bjork go way off the handle with the vocals, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Lastly, here comes Alec Empire. The hardcore master comes and offers his services; basically the songs are Alec going into a self-indulgent rage of hardcore beauty. If you started the song a minute in, there is no way you'd know it was a remix, but it doesn't matter. They're still pretty damn solid, and I like the way the vocals are worked into the remix. Overall, if you're willing to pay an admittedly steep price, you should get your money's worth.

This CD is a must for two reasons: 1) So Broken: One of Bjork's all-time greatest B-sides (and true fans will know what an honor that title is), with beautiful, soaring flamenco guitar in place of the usual sonic oddities under Bjork's always beautiful lyrics and vocals. 2) The Alec Empire Joga, the scariest, most engrossing, most unbelievably different Bjork reconstruction ever. Don't be thrown off by it, it's a dificult piece, but I promise you it's all there, just keep listening. To be perfectly honest, I've had this disc for some time, and couldn't even begin to tell you about many of the other tracks. Those tracks are so standout they eclipse everything else. Buy it buy it buy it.

Joga was the first single from Bjork's third album "Homogenic". This track is made up perfectly just like one of those DNA figures, from both strings and electronic beats, which bjork herself said resemble the cackle of ice in iceland. If you are already a bjork fan and haven't heard this before, it's will be one of those unexpected things that bjork had embarked on this time, if you are still learning "Joga" is a must. The Remixes are pretty good, but the album version the raw one. her voice's texture is one other instrument. The lyrics are emotional and concise, thus very poetic.

Merchandise was in good condition but stated "new". New usually means "never opened" not opened, used and re-packaged. Actual disc had light dents and scratches on the back indicating prior use. All in all it plays fine so this is not a bad review. Thanks

This Joga single is quite a bit like the other Joga single, in that they both include the four tracks:

5. Joga(Album Version)
6. Sod Off
7. Immature
8. So Broken

Where it shines are the remixes. A total of six additional remixes of Joga finish out the remaining tracks on the album. Nostalgia and an affinity for Bjork and the many remixes performed on her tracks throughout the years (see Telegram) made this purchase a no-brainer.

The Alec Empire mixes alone are worth the purchase price.

This song is pure poetry-evocative of so many emotions. Highly recommend you see the video representation of this song as well. My favorite mix is the Buzz Water mix.