Bedroom Community

Phillip Glass’ brightest protégé?

Madrigals by Tudor composer William Byrd, and the minimalism of Glass and Björk all leave their mark on the second full solo work by this 26-year-old NYC composer. Recorded with Icelandic producer Valgeir Sigurðsson, the three extended sound collages here are radically different in conception but are lent unified coherence by the central role of the various singers, all deployed at the extremes of human vocal expression. The title track is the most Björk-like; “The Only Tune” recalls Glass’s “Music In 12 Parts” and “Wonders” uses fragments of old English text to thrilling operatic effect.

Nigel Williamson