ANIMA

Vox Nostra were born during the summer of 2007 in Rambouillet, France by composer and keyboardist Pierre Minvielle.Pierre had already received Classical education and was also familiar with Jazz harmonies, while with Vox Nostra he tried to combine these elements with rock instrumentation.Recruiting three vocalists (Roxane Terramorsi, Marie-Suzanne Lacroix and Laurent Levy) along with Jean Claude Delachat on guitars and Sophie Le Coq-Cochard on flutes, he recorded the first album ''Anima'', released independently in 2009.

The music of Vox Nostra has been compared with MAGMA and not of course with no reason.Both acts move from dramatic and sinister sections to ethereal textures with impressive vocals, while Vox Nostra's four-piece choir also sings in an unusual language: All lyrics are delivered in Latin, derived from a Christian liturgy, according to Minvielle himself, creating a beautiful, Gospel atmosphere.Musically the group sounds a bit one-dimensional with the textures being driven by Minvielle stretched piano lines and careful use of keyboards, close to the style of Ad Vitam, but the proposed sound is certainly quite dreamy, with the vocals offering often another ''hidden instrument'' to the arrangements.The guitars and drums are measured, adding some sort of needed diversity, while the presence of them gives rise to a more Fusion approach of an otherwise very Zeuhl/Chamber Rock album.Stylistically the group has a strong Classical- and Jazz-tendency through the process with alternating softer and more haunting lyrical moments, but the addition of guitars and drums easily drop Vox Nostra into the prog category.While some dynamics are obviously absent, ''Anima'' has a strange, deep and unique atmosphere of its own, propably created by the Latin vocals and the dominant piano work of Minvielle.

An unknown pearl of recent Progressive Rock.Many will find ''Anima'' a bit too soft for their tastes, but this album has still a bizzare attractiveness few groups can create.Warmly recommended, especially if you like Chamber Prog or light Zeuhl.