Telegram

Björk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 14, 1997)
• Original Release Date: January 14, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000002HLJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,052 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Icelandic iconoclast is a past master of deconstructing her studio recordings, and here she plays an active role in helping a crew of remixers and guest artistes get medieval with tracks off 1995's Post. Trip-hop, jungle, and industrial flavors will draw the Tricky crowd, and Brodsky Quartet puts a string-driven spin on "Hyperballad," but it's the lush Deodata treatment of "Isobel" that'll make your head spin. --Jeff Bateman

Product Description

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) paper sleeve pressing. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexplained On Your Collar, July 1, 2005

By 

Gyakusetsu (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Telegram (Audio CD)

Telegram is basically a beautiful compillation of the best mixes (and one b-side) from nearly all of the 'Post' singles.

The album revisits all of the songs off of 'Post' (except for 'It's Oh So Quiet' and 'The Modern Things') and completely revamps them.

1. Possibly Maybe [Lucy Mix] 4/5
This is a very odd version of possibly maybe with complete new vocals. It sounds almost mechanical, but it's deffinitely Björk doing what she does best!

2. Hyper-Ballad [Brodski Quartert Version] 5/5
This is the Brodski Quartert performance with bjork of Hyper-Ballad. The song has so much energy from the strings, and Björk gives one of her best performances with the quartet that I have ever heard.

3. Enjoy [Further Over The Edge Mix] 4/5
This is the most bizarre track on the entire disc. Its an electronic buzzing mind trip like none other. The music is all buzzing beats with sampled Björk vocals. Very awesome track.

4. My Spine 5/5
It takes you through glass windchimes and a sensual tune brought by Björk. A delacate & pretty song, it is a dust devil of pretty beats and chimes.

5. I Miss You [Dobie's Rub Part One - Sunshine Mix] 2/5
In my opinion, the worst track on the disc. It's basically the 'Post' version, except slowed down and put to hip-hop. Not very good.

6. Isobel [Deodato Mix] 5/5
This is the true highlight of the whole album. The song Isobel has here been put with a contemporary jazz beat and really awesome instrumentals that just take the already wonderful song to the next level.

7. You've Been Flirting Again [Flirt Is A Promise Mix] 5/5
Very simple and pretty. The beginning entices you and the beautiful string arrangements keep you wanting more. Different vocals than on 'Post,' but quite an improvement, in my opinion.

8. Cover Me [Dillinja Mix] 3/5
a six minute repetitious sample song. It gets kinda old after the first 2 minutes.

9. Army Of Me [Massey Mix] 4/5
Another bizarre electrick buzz trip. It sorta takes on a hip-hop beat throughout, but in a tasteful way by masking it with other fascinating sounds.

10. Headphones [Mika Vaionio Remix] 5/5
I love this song. It is basically an instrumental tribute of the song. It preserves the best bits of the 'Post' version, while managing to make a completely new sounding song. Björk's vocals are just beautiful in it.

Even though the song is 6 min+ in length, it does not get old.

11. I Miss You 5/5
This is the 'Post' album version of the song. cool, edgy and an awesome music video to go along with it. I don't really understand why this track was included, but I can only assume that it's to apologize for the bad hip-hop version in track 5 of the disc ;).

Overall, this album (or EP, whatever) is deffinitely worth adding to your Björk collection. the different versions of Björk's 'Post' Songs are really worth hearing.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Possibly maybe one of the best remix albums ever, August 16, 2004

By 

J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Telegram (Audio CD)

say goodbye to the deliciously demented Sugarcubes, and say hello to Bjork solo pop star! in her old bands it was obvious that there was a mighty strong force brewing in her mind and with her vocals. sometimes her ideas seemed suffocated by her fellow band member's contributions; so thank god that someone had the sense to let her go solo and really explore the outer and inner dephths of her talent. now that she has enjoyed a healthy and high profile solo career for quite some time; it's amazing to take a look back at her past catalogue and examine her progression over the years.

"Telegram" stands out not just as an excellent Bjork album, but also as a superb example of how a remix album should be done. (Massive Attack's "No Protection" is another outstanding example.) the Bjork originals on "Telegram" are not just given a thumping 4/4 techno beat or some other kind of lazy "remix" treatment. in fact, many of these songs add so much more life to the originals that you may have a hard time choosing which is your favorite. it's also amazing to me that even though each song gets a different remix from a different artist, the whole album has a very coherent and organic feel to it. the songs flow and some of the performances are downright brilliant! "Possibly Maybe" warps and spaces out Bjork's sultry vocals and adds a lazy stumbling beat that fits it perfectly. Deodato's treatment of "Isobel" is sheer bliss, and "I Miss You" in the hands of Dobie becomes a fun and bouncy hip-hop lite anthem. the new track on here "My Spine" comes across alot like some of the percussion from Tom Waits' "Bone Machine" album crossed with some crazy calypso. it's a great song and fits in perfectly with the whole of the album. there are lots of great ideas and artistic energy here on "Telegram."

that's the beauty of Bjork. she can harness all her outrageous ideas and mold (or allow her producers to mold) those elements and create an amazing sonic masterpiece that stands the test of time. all her albums come highly recommended and i have a hard time trying to tell people who don't own any of her solo albums which one is best to start with. and even though it is a remix album, "Telegram" is a fine place as any to begin exploring.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegantly crafted remixes, July 25, 2006

By 

Joseph Mogavero - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Telegram (Audio CD)

of Bjork's eccentric music. Very powerful sounds yet a very modest approach. A definate must own for any fan of her work. Variety of musical genres presented here from a classical approach with the brodsky quartet to dark thumping techno-like pieces as well as traditional tracks. Bjork is a musician into and of her own style.