It’s been some time since we’ve heard from Björk, Her last notable original output being the soundtrack to 2005’s Drawing Restraint 9, an abstract film written and directed by her boyfriend Matthew Barney. Following on from 2004’s Medúlla, Her sixth studio album Volta is due for release on May 7th 2007. The album’s ten new tracks feature appearances from, among others: Timbaland, Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons) and Mark Bell (LFO), not forgetting the obligatory ten-piece female brass section, of course.

Also, for the first time in four years, Björk will be back on tour to promote her new album. Confirmed dates so far are all for festivals, including Glastonbury (UK) and Coachella (USA), with future dates due to be announced in the coming weeks. Having never seen Björk live, I will happily offer some sacrificial animal to higher powers if she can show up at Sonar Festival in Barcelona this year, where I will also be in attendance. She has performed there in the past, and the dates (14th/15th/16th June) are still available on her schedule if her website is to be believed. Perhaps Mark Bell can have a word in her shell-like for me… fingers crossed!