Valgeir Sigurðsson’s iconic and eclectic record label ‘Bedroom Community’ was showcased at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank on 24 September. Billed primarily as an organ recital, highlighting the label’s newest member (organist James McVinnie), the varied program featured works by two Faber composers, Puzzle Muteson and Valgeir Sigurðsson, alongside Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner and Philip Glass. Sigurðsson concluded the concert with a set of 3 compositions, employing the venue’s newly restored organ alongside a diverse ensemble of viola da gamba, viola, double bass, marimba and electronics. Sigurðsson’s works comprised ‘Plainsong’ (from Architecture of Loss), ‘Past Tundra’ (from Dreamland) and the haunting concert premiere of ‘For Love of Her (do but kill me)’, in which American vocalist (and new Bedroom Community signing) Jodie Landau joined the ensemble, providing a powerful finale to the packed-out concert.
REVIEWS
‘The new Bedroom Community signing Jodie Landau, gave us a hint of things to come with a rich, sonorous vocal that made Valgeir Sigurðsson’s Do but kill me something of a showstopper, uplifting in spite of its title’.
Arcana (Ben Hogwood) September 2015
‘Jodie Landau to the ensemble to bring the evening to a powerful, elemental conclusion. These are artists at the top of their game, blossoming in the joy of collaboration and the freedom of having set ‘labels’ aside’.
The Sound of Heavy Rain, 26 September 2015
‘After a more meditative period the proceedings came to a close in upbeat celebratory style. It is clear that as well as the expertise and passion of all concerned one of the great strengths of Bedroom Community is its basis in genuine friendships that were very much in evidence throughout’.
Lark (Stephen Page), 27 September 2015