“…ethereal pixie dust sound…”
Suzanne Mackay
3.5 Stars
Venue: Walsh Bay. ACO on the Pier
Sydney
Sydney Festival
JFDR is not really a band, but is also not really a person – I guess you could say that JFDR is a concept under which Jófríður Ákadótti creates and performs. She seems to be the constant, with other collaborators coming and going although based on the on-stage banter, Australian born Icelandic resident Joshua Wilkinson looks like a mainstay.
I didn’t know what to expect other than a night of Icelandic sounds which conjures up a night of ethereal pixie dust sound, and they didn’t disappoint. The music is exactly what comes to mind with the term Icelandic music, it’s soft, breathy, wistful with overtones of Bjork and Emilíana Torrini. That’s not to say it’s lacking in originality, the music is unique with a very particular type of modulation on the high notes and the set contains songs dating back more than a decade so the musical evolution is evident.
JFDR has had a lengthy career already, even at the relatively young age of thirty and this is perhaps the biggest challenge for the musicians. Moving from teenage ingenue through to a more mature long lasting and sustained career is difficult, and while there can be no disputing the musicianship, the most unique element – the vocals – sometimes get lost on the breathy soprano notes. ‘Spectator’, one of the final numbers performed, is an ethereal piece which conjures up the stark bright gloom of the fjords which is apparent on the recording but loses the light and shade on stage. However, there is time. Time to grow and develop and expand and create in many forms. JFDR has already attracted some mighty praise and collaborators spanning recorded and live music as well as composing for film and television. The Neilson at the wharf was a perfect venue for her music and from this point, the only way is up
Suzanne Mackay, Theatre Now
