| Review by Jonalogic February 27, 2013 (7 of 11 found this review helpful)
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Alia Vox appear to have perfected the art of minimalist recording in stone-faced church or historic venues. Although this is not one of their most recent releases, the results are wonderfully transparent, natural and vibrant-sounding, with stunning stage depth and ambience.
As always, Savall and his choral and instrumental forces make unforced, idiomatic music, with the divine Montserrat Figuerras - here in her prime - gracing the performances with her beautifully fluid and expressive voice.
The Sibyline chants from medieval Spain, themed around the apocalyptic end of days, make a strong impact on many levels. The repeating Mallorca chant, in particular, is hypnotic in its musical and expressive impact; in fact, it sounds eerily reminiscent of Aavo Part's 'holy minimalism', albeit 600 years early!
From a modern, secular, post-enlightenment perspective, we can see the religious texts as basically obnoxious, irrational and incomprehensible. The xenophobic, god and hell-fearing medieval European mind of the 1400s is indeed a strange and alien place to explore.
But that does not in any way detract from the sonic and musical merits of this stimulating and thought-provoking SACD. Recommended for those seeking something off the beaten track, musically.
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