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ESPRIT D'AMOR

Minimum Vital

Eclectic Prog


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Minimum Vital Esprit d'Amor  album cover
3.75 | 67 ratings | 6 reviews | 16% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1997

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Esprit d'Amor (5:35)
2. Brazilian Light (6:43)
3. Modern Trad' (8:04)
4. L'invitation (6:55)
5. Les voyages de Costey (3:56)
6. Song a Cinq (6:37)
7. Danse pour la nouvelle alliance (6:04)
8. Prélude aux oiseaux tristes (1:23)
9. Au cercle de pierre, j'ai dansé... (8:02)

Total Time 53:19

Line-up / Musicians

- Sonia Nedelec / lead vocals
- Jean-Luc Payssan / guitars, backing vocals
- Thierry Payssan / piano, synths, Hammond, backing vocals
- Eric Rebeyrol / Noguera bass
- Charly Berna / drums
- Jean-Baptiste Ferracci / lead vocals
- Peter Acock, Richard Ducros & Joel Versavaud / saxophones
- Freddy Buson & David Raymond / trumpets
- Jean-Marc Paboeuf / oboe

Releases information

CD Musea FGBG 4209.AR (1997) France

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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Buy MINIMUM VITAL Esprit d'Amor Music



MINIMUM VITAL Esprit d'Amor ratings distribution


3.75
(67 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(16%)
16%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(46%)
46%
Good, but non-essential (28%)
28%
Collectors/fans only (1%)
1%
Poor. Only for completionists (7%)
7%

MINIMUM VITAL Esprit d'Amor reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Tarcisio Moura
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 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.

Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 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.

Latest members reviews

4 stars 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) ... (read more)

Report this review (#2463568) | Posted by Muskrat | Saturday, November 7, 2020 | Review Permanlink

5 stars 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 ... (read more)

Report this review (#1802478) | Posted by Booba Kastorsky | Wednesday, October 11, 2017 | Review Permanlink

4 stars 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 Soni ... (read more)

Report this review (#355213) | Posted by toroddfuglesteg | Thursday, December 16, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars 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 ... (read more)

Report this review (#4862) | Posted by Vasil Jalabadze | Tuesday, November 30, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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