A MÃO LIVRE

With ''Quasimodo'' succeeding good sales worldwide, Quaterna Requiem would perform at the Rio Art Rock Festival in 1997, opening for Par Lindh Project, and two years later they would launch their first live album ''Livre'', captured at the Scalla in Rio de Janeiro.Ex-member Kleber Vogel also performs here as a guest musician.However, a couple of years later, it was announced that Vogel had reunited forces with the band.This gave the chance to Elisa Wiermann to collaborate with Vogel in a different project, supported by the whole Quaterna Requiem team.Inspired by a solo painting exhibition by Claudio Dantas, the album ''A mao livre'' was released in 2003 on the band's Quaterna label under the names of Wiermann and Vogel.

Taking the background of these recordings into consideration, this would be perfect fit for a painting exhibition, but quite far from what Quaterna Requiem had released so far.With Wiermann and Vogel being the main contributors, this one sounds mostly like a Folk/New Age record with tighter links to the atmospheric instrumentals of compatriots SAGRADO CORACAO DA TERRA than the refined Symphonic Rock of Quaterna Requiem.The music is a mix of soft Classical, New Age, Renaissance-period and Folk inspirations, dominated by the heavy use of acoustic piano and the omnipresent violin drives of Vogel, showered by occasional keyboard themes, bass lines and a few string parts.Very relaxing music with a mellow mood, all instrumental, serving the scope of its release.Absolutely no dynamics or grandiose parts, the two musicians focused on creating ethereal soundscapes and move far from the more complex deliveries of their main act.Last track ''Fugato'' offers though the familiar style of the group with full display of drums and guitars and even some organ in the process, this follows the Symphonic Rock lines established by the Brazilian veterans, featuring nice interplays and dreamy solos with a strong Classical background.

Consider this as an off-shoot release of Quaterna Requiem.Mainly background, mellow musicianship with piano and violin in evidence, not progressive, but quite atmospheric and suitable for a romantic dinner.For die-hard fans of the band...2.5 stars.