The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
4
new
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE CLAMOR – “CARDIAC SOUNDTRACK”/”TURING TOY”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE UTOPIATES – “MAKING HISTORY”
SPILL FEATURE: DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY – A CONVERSATION WITH TONY PERRY OF PIERCE THE VEIL
SPILL NEW MUSIC: GORD DOWNIE AND BOB ROCK RELEASE MONUMENTAL NEW SONG “THE MOMENT IS A WILD PLACE” VIA ARTS & CRAFTS
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
148
previous article
next article
Album Review: Betty Moon - Rollin Revolution

Album Review: Dirty Projectors + Björk – Mount Wittenburg Orca

mount wittenberg orca

Dirty Projectors + Björk
Mount Wittenburg Orca
Domino Recording Inc.
RATING

Listening to Dirty Projectors’ album Mount Wittenburg Orca (featuring Björk as co-collaborator) definitely classifies as one of the most interesting experiences of my life. If it turns out that the band wanted to evoke an almost dumbfounded-mixed-with-intrigued response from their listeners, then they’ve certainly achieved that. Suffice it to say, I’m having a hard time trying to express how I feel about Mount Wittenburg Orca.

On the whole, the album sounds spontaneous, fractured, strange, awry, occasionally a little corny, and at other moments, very pretty. Much of what the album relies on are the vocals, both in the harmonies and the melodies, giving each song its colour, tone and mood. While everything else, whether it be bass or percussion, merely serve to prop up the vocals. The record’s salient quality is the ambitious vocal work. Although at times the vocals can induce ear-wincing, it’s hard not to appreciate the effort these guys put into the vocals. The band experiments with different styles, tones, dynamics and effects to diversify the vocals, so much so that listening to the album from start to finish is like walking from one end of a circus tent to the other and experiencing all the varying sights and sounds, whether they are fun or disconcerting.

And Mount Wittenburg Orca does feature a wide range of qualities. For example, the vocals on “Ocean” reminded me of a certain unpleasant memory of being in a condensed space with a few crying babies. On the other hand, the song “All We Are” sounds like the type of lofty music that would accompany a dream sequence of frolicking through a vast empty field. Mount Wittenburg Orca undoubtedly has some moments that can alienate its listeners; but it also has really ambitious vocal experimentation that many music-lovers will appreciate.

– Joe F

dirtyprojectors.net

 

close

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Item Reviewed

Album Review: Dirty Projectors + Björk – Mount Wittenburg Orca

Author

Joe F.

Album Reviews
album reviewsdirty projectorsmount wittenberg orca
album reviews, dirty projectors, mount wittenberg orca
About the Author
Joe F.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviews
 
8.0
H.C. McEntire

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: H.C. McENTIRE – EVERY ACRE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on January 27, 2023
H.C. McEntire Every Acre Merge Records Durham, North Carolina might not exactly be a renowned music center, but that there is quite a good chance that singer-songwriter H.C. McEntire and her latest release, Every Acre, might give that city a [...]
 
8.0
Jerry Leger

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY LEGER – LIVE FROM PARADISE

by Bryan Williston on January 27, 2023
Jerry Leger Live From Paradise Latent Recordings Toronto singer-songwriter Jerry Leger is one of those artists who does not sit still for too long. With his solid motivation and work ethic, it’s little wonder that he is releasing some choice [...]
 
9.0
Bob Dylan
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOB DYLAN – FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF MIND SESSIONS (1996-1997) THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 17

by Aaron Badgley on January 27, 2023
Bob Dylan Fragments – Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997) The Bootleg Series Vol. 17 Legacy/Colombia/Sony Bob Dylan continues his bootleg series with number 17. For this box set, Fragments – Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996 – [...]
 
8.0
Marianne Faithfull

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARIANNE FAITHFULL – KISSIN’ TIME (REISSUE)

by Aaron Badgley on January 27, 2023
Marianne Faithfull Kissin’ Time (Reissue) BMG By 2002 Marianne Faithful was eager to return to a more contemporary sound following albums in which she focused on Kurt Weill. These include Weill recording and performing his opera The Seven [...]
 
8.0
Kevin Morby

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KEVIN MORBY – MUSIC FROM MONTANA STORY

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on January 25, 2023
Kevin Morby Music From Montana Story Dead Oceans If there’s an artist who can come up with a soundtrack for a neo-Western film today, Kevin Morby might not be the usual choice, but just might be a great one. Scott McGehee and David Siegel [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: H.C. McENTIRE – EVERY ACRE
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY LEGER – LIVE FROM PARADISE
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOB DYLAN – FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF...
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARIANNE FAITHFULL – KISSIN’ TIME (...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KEVIN MORBY – MUSIC FROM MONTANA STORY
8.0

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUADECA – I DIDN’T MEAN TO HAUNT YOU
2330
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HUMAN LEAGUE – THE VIRGIN YEARS
1835
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ELVIS PRESLEY – ELVIS ON TOUR
840
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHRIEKBACK – BOWLAHOOLA
772
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOB DYLAN – FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF MIND SESSIONS (1996-1997) THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 17
581
 
SPILL NEWS: RICKIE LEE JONES NEVER DID FOLLOW THE RULES | ‘PIECES OF TREASURE’ OUT APRIL 28 (BMG MODERN)
528
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHEAP TRICK – LIVE AT THE WHISKY 1977
498
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID CROSBY & THE LIGHTHOUSE BAND – LIVE AT THE CAPITAL THEATRE
361
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NAZZ – LOST MASTERS & DEMOS
335
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: GRAMERCY ARMS – “YESTERDAY’S GIRL” FT. LLOYD COLE
321
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LITTLE RIVER BAND – ULTIMATE HITS/MASTERPIECES
320
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOAN ARMATRADING – LIVE AT ASYLUM CHAPEL
312
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND – LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE 2019
268
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES