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“Her work was fantastic. May her soul live forever.”
Douglas P – Death in June
Irma Victoria (1923-2000)
The first time Irma Victoria appears in connection with Martin Hall is on the cassette “The Hall Of Mirrors” which was released as 888 numbered copies in 1989. Irma Victoria is featured on the song “Memorial”. However, Irma Victoria was always part of Martin Hall’s life. She was a friend of the family and her voice fascinated Hall when he was but a child and she used to hum Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. In 1989 Martin Hall decides to use different voices on “Hall Of Mirrors”, and asks Irma Victoria if she wants to participate. She accepts the invitation.
The following year, 1990, sees the release of first the Martin Hall EP “Palladium” which features Irma Victoria’s voice on the title track, and a couple of months later, in November 1990, the Irma Victoria And The Martin Hall Orchestra: “The Rainbow Theatre.” Irma Victoria is launched as a former cabaret singer and the debut album is met by confused reactions from reviewers. Danish music magazine Gaffa describes the album as the most extreme Danish release ever and national newspaper Politiken asks: “Does Irma Victoria actually exist?” That she was indeed not a work of fiction was evident when, in 1991, she was nominated as Danish singer of the year at the Grammy Awards.
Following the release of the second album, Irma Victoria And The Hatebox Experience: "Phantasmagoria – The Second Coming”, 1994, some reviewers still hint at the possibility of Victoria being a hoax - despite the fact that she was present at the Grammy nominations and that she, one year earlier, was rewarded Queen Margrethe’s Silver Medal Of Honour for 40 years of service in the public sector. While reviewers were confused by “The Rainbow Theatre” they were intrigued by “Phantasmagoria – The Second Coming.” Music critics describe the work as “fascinating” though obviously still not sure exactly what to make of Irma Victoria. The album is described as both frightening and humorous.
The last studio recording to feature Irma Victoria is “Itsi-Bitsi”, featured on “Hip..En Hyldest Til Steppeulvene”, released 1995. This is the only cover ever recorded by Victoria and it is the only recording of her singing in Danish.
Irma Victoria dies November 10, following complications after a coronary thrombosis she suffered a couple of weeks prior. While she is hospitalised, Martin Hall makes a series of recordings of Victoria - he has been approached by a small publisher that wants to release an album of Irma Victoria reading Martin Hall short stories. Early recordings are made at the hospital but the project is abandoned as Victoria’s condition worsens. In addition to the readings these recordings also contain conversations concerning Victoria’s condition and her experience with the hospital, and these elements are combined to make up six sound collages titled “Expo 1-6,” featuring Irma Victoria’s voice alongside recorded applause and laughter as well as gloomy music. Martin Hall makes use of these pieces in the autumn of 2001 for the audiovisual installation “A Hospital Room,” presented at The Ystad Museum Of Art.
The ”Expo” recordings appear on the ”Memorial” compilation released in 2001, precisely one year after Irma Victoria’s death. “Memorial” compiles parts of "The Rainbow Theatre" and "Phantasmagoria" and furthermore it contains ”Itsi-Bitsi” and ”River Of Light,” a remake of ”River Of Night” originally released on ”Phantasmagoria”. The new version features Sharin Foo (Raveonettes) on backing vocals. “Memorial” includes a bonus disc with a commemorative radio broadcast aired on Danish national radio in December 2000.
Irma Victoria’s funeral took place November 15 2000 at Store Tåstrup church in Store Merløse where she was buried in the anonymous graves section of the churchyard.
Discography
The Hall Of Mirrors (MC - 9/1989)
Palladium ((EP – 9/1990)
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