ANIMA ANIMUS

The phoenix that is Celeste continues to fly high on its computer keyboard-enriched Prog Lite / NeoProg sound palette. Here the band adds flutist Marco Moro to its full-time cast.

1. "Anima Animus" (8:40) syrupy symphonic Prog Lite schlock. (17.33333/20) 2. "Roots and Leaves" (5:40) something sophisticated and jazzy! I never expected anything like this--especially after hearing all of the album's other songs. Parts of it could almost come from a LAGARTIJA album or perhaps even a NOVICENTO album. (8.875/10) 3. "Cosmic Carnival" (6:59) a little creativity and life showing in this one. (13.25/15) 4. "De Rerum Natura" (9:03) opening with piano like something from a classic classical music piece or perhaps a Broadway musical. Joined by synths the piano then takes a different turn to exhibit a new motif which is joined by guitars, flutes, and the rest of the band. The piano part throughout sounds so much like a kid practicing scales--even through the rather rough edits and splices. I like this one most for its feel of being founded in classical music--though at times it's as annoying as a theme song from a long-running television show. (8.875/10) 5. "Lilith" (6:32) interesting late-1970s/1980s techno/New Wave music that reminds me of The Buggles and Claire Hammill's "Icicle Rain" from her all-voice-generated album, Voices from 1986. (8.6667/10) 6. "El Mundo Perdido" (6:44) a percussion opening that reminds me of MICKEY HART's world music creations facilitated through his Planet Drum albums. Yes, this is definitely more befitting a 1980s World Music smooth jazz album. I was into this music from about 1984 through 1990 and would have definitely purchased an album like this back then. Nice and melodic, but now too schlocky for me. (13/15) 7. "Secret Crime" (6:25) an opening that sounds like a classically-inspired pop-jazz song using both Satie, Minimalism, Mark Isham, and Laurie Anderson for examples. Surprisingly enjoyable even if it is rather schlocky (like something from a MANHATTAN TRANSFER album). (8.875/10) 8. "Moon and Cloud Dancing" (12:01) (syrupy symphonic Prog Lite schlock. The prog-by-numbers drum play is almost sickening. (21/25)

Total Time 62:04

B-/3.5 stars; a pleasant, nice-sounding album of fairly simple, often schlocky tunes that, to my mind, fails to live up to the hype it's been given.

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