ESPRIT D'AMOR

I am surprised - there is no review for this great album.

Excellent work!

The band has absolutely different and unique sound. I have never heard such suit vocals (here are two or more lead vocalist, one of them is a woman). Numerous guitar solos under polyphonic piano passages makes the sound really nice. When I listen to this album I always want to smile for beautiful vocals that have bands members.

Don't miss to listen to this almost masterpiece work.

Very, very interesting band from France that makes quite an original sound. It is unique and still quite accessible and melodic. It´s hard to label them because their use of many different thythms and sounds make it hard to even compare them to other bands. I don´t belive anyone else is doing anything like them. There is salsa, bossa nova, jazz, traditional french music and a whole pallete of other sounds, all mixed together with melodic compositions that are beautifully crafted and very well sung by both lead singers, alternating male and female vocals. Prog music indeed!

The production is quite good, not exceptional, but good anyway. I specially liked the mixing, because these kind of sound is full of subtle details that could easily end up lost if this would be badly done. Fortunatly this is not the case. The tracklist is varied and there is no filler at all. All the musicians are masters of their instrument but ther is no gratuitous display of virtuosity any time. It´s technique used for the sake of the songs.

If you´re looking for something that is different, but still accessible, melodic and in song form, try this CD. You won´t be disappointed. Highly recommended! 4,5 stars.

I am not a huge fan from this French band. One of the major problem that I am facing is the vocals of their male lead singer. He reminds me very much of JJ Goldman (''Tai Phong''), but less appealing. Even when he sings in French, the lyrics are hardly recognizable (and I am a native French speaker).

The mood is often funky (''Esprit D'Armor'', ''Song A Cinq''), jazzy (''Brazilian Light'') which is not my cup of tea as you might know. Of course, the jazz influenced music is no news with this band: they showed already such tendencies during their first album.

The mix of several musical influences provides a feeling of world music, though the complexity of the music played and the skills of the musicians are unquestionable. But I could have lived without the wind instrument section very well.

They also integrate folkloric music and blends it into modern and imposing prog (''L'Invitation''). The perpetual mix of languages (?) within a song is not always recommendable IMO. Still, some instrumental parts are quite well achieved (''Modern Trad'', ''Au Cercle De Pierre J'Ai Dansé'').

I don't feel a lot of passion for this work. The band is talented but lacks in the ability to write truly great songs. As such, this album deserves three stars: a good album.

I have been following this French band with interest since the interview I did with them some months ago. Their first albums was promising, but nothing more.

The opening song, the title track no less, is an uplifting song somewhere between Magma and the B 52s. An excellent song with Sonia Nedelec demoting the Payssan brothers to backing singers. Sonia does a wonderful job throughout the album and her vocals is exactly what the doctors ordered for this band.

It is obvious that Minimum Vital draws on the rich French prog rock tradition throughout this album. From Ange to Magma. The songs are great throughout. They are also very varied and offers a wide variety of melody lines and landscapes. The album goes from cathedral like rousing symphonic prog like pieces to more toned down baroque pastoral pieces. There are also plenty of folk rock pieces here too.

Every pieces of the jigsaw puzzle falls into place on this album and it is one of the best French albums I have heard this year. A highly recommended album it is.

4 stars

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Posted Thursday, December 16, 2010 | Review Permalink

I love this album! The songs are melodic and infectious, and warm vocal of their singer Sonia made them simply irresistible. This is very close to pop, but clever and inventive arrangement that mixes a few styles, from folk to jazz or samba (?), along with inventive guitar solos strategically placed here and there make this record highly recommended. Prog or not really prog, I don't care. This is not "a masterpiece of progressive rock music" for sure, but I gave it 5 starts. For me personally this is my Top 20, and if I need to put myself in a good mood, I play it. Don't miss it!

180 ° turn

Successful change of direction for the group! While Minimum Vital wrote largely instrumental music, they play us here in a modern, widely sung register. Apart from a few rare winks, the Middle Ages have been neglected in favor of South America (Brazilian Light, Au Cercle de Pierre). We therefore remain in the Latin culture. The result gives us more festive pieces, sometimes with a brilliant or languid tone. Undeniably, the melodies are catchy. Despite an apparent simplicity, the writing is embellished with multiple breaks and quirks. The doubled vocals, above all, give a strange tone to the whole. Apart from "Les Voyages de Costey" where the lyrics are clearly understandable, the language used is the usual mixture of Minimum Vital: French, Occitan and words invented for the pleasure of the sounds. To our delight, the group has finally decided to invite real singers (Sonia Nedelec's voice is superb!) And a brass section (oboe on "Prélude Aux Oiseaux Tristes"). Note also great progress on the recording, which is rounder and the appreciated return of the accordion in "Modern trad '". In the end, the result is much more original than it seems. Original while remaining very pleasant.

An album that I never tire of. And certainly a great addition to any progressive rock collection.