Band: Vox Nostra
Band Website: www.myspace.com/voxnostra
Label: Independent Release
Label Website:
Release Date: 2009
The
email I received requesting to send me a copy of Vox Nostra’s new release entitled Anima said… “see that I composed a very different
music... Latin and four voices choir is the land I live in...Well I could hardly resist that invitation. And true to form like progressive
rock in general, the music created by Vox Nostra is indeed very different and there is no question the use of four-voices forming
a kind of choir singing in Latin truly sets it apart. The band was formed in 2007 and consists of Pierre Minvielle (vocals [baritone],
keyboards), Roxane Terramorsi (vocals [mezzo-soprano]), Marie-Suzanne Lacroix (vocals [alto]), Laurent Levy (vocals [tenor]), Jean
Claude Delachat (guitars) and Sophie Le Coq-Cochard (flute).
The music on Anima is the brainchild of band leader Pierre Minvielle
and is made up of 11 tracks most of which are longer, in the seven or eight minute range with a number of shorter one-minute tracks
forming the connections. Some have called attention to a slight Magma influence and certainly the band being French that may have
played some part, but the music here is too symphonic for me to hear much of that. Instead I hear Halloween as more of a reference
point, especially because of the male and female voices as well as the general compositional tone. Turns out the structure of these
pieces is built on a kind of Mass or church liturgy, lending a basis for the use of Latin. Lyrically there is a kind of spiritual
theme running through the disc. Let me expand on the music a bit, this is very symphonic music with a pronounced jazz-fusion influence
heard particularly in Pierre’s keyboard leads. The music features many musical change ups, particularly in the slow to fast department,
a little guitar here, a lot of flute there and keyboards everywhere. The instruments quickly trade places with the vocals which for
most of the compositions are highly melodic. Sung in this fashion the Latin lyrics do seem to flow beautifully against the music.
This is indeed a very different listen. And despite the lack of a full-band compliment the sound is full, well spaced aurally
and avoids the confined, one-man-band sound. The sound is lush and full when it’s supposed to be and soft and poignant at other times.
If you enjoyed the work of Halloween on their disc Merlin I think you’ll really appreciate what’s going on musically with Vox
Nostra. Anima sounds like it could be the start of something good. There is a very unique sound here and I hope to hear more from
the band in the years ahead.
