Berlin based gleeman septet CORVUS CORAX have hardly set themselves a monument with their opulently staged mediaeval musical version of Carmina Burana (Cantus Burantus) and strike back again with a regular full-length. On Venus Vina Musica they pick up the thread they put aside with their last regular album Seikilos: with mediaeval music one already can call plain and that can be performed at any time and any place. The concept behind narrates the story of an enamored gleeman on the search of the most beautiful woman ever, the dancing queen Sanyogita and his long lasting journey through countries and cultures during the 13th century. While European songs like Venus Vina Musica (middle Europe), Tuska (gypsies) and Katrinka (Balkan) sounds somewhat authentic, I miss specific instruments in Bibit Aleum (Japan) and Urmawi (Arabia) that bring these cultures in that times closer to the listener. Also Tertia (Bretagne) is a little disappointing in this matter. These tracks just sound too much like CORVUS CORAX, if you know what I mean ;) Only Sanyogita shines with some Indian influences.
Besides, most of the tracks are pure instrumental songs, so that the singing and voices are truly missed and emerges as rare but welcome variety.
Of course Venus Vina Musica is again an absolutely masterpiece in matter of musician’s skills, production and staging, but I have to say “spiritually” the spark doesn’t want to jump across.

Footer: this promo version of this album does not contain all songs and in a different order. If there arise some confusions, sorry.