This French Neoclassic sextet is working with the steadiness of a Swiss clockwork, now releasing their fifth album Exaudi Vocem Mean Pt. 1, which is obviously the first part of an opus, it’s second part gets released sometime in 2006. With the same steadiness DARK SANCTUARY releases again a gem of sad and melancholic, gothic-touched classic music, which cannot be more suitable for dark and snowy winter days.
Stylistically they remain true to themselves but still change enough the instrumentation and musical context to get aware of the changes compared with previous releases. This time the band doesn’t focus on a special instrument, just setting accents with piano tones, guitars and strings.
With Dein kalter Stein they surprise with a German sung song, dominated by male vocals and accompanied by Dame Pandora (must bet he German studio). The Garden Of Jane Delawney again is in English and a cover version (one might know from All About Eve) that steps outside of the Neoclassic genre. As more they get into their own again with Cristal, darker and epic than ever before, seemingly erasing every touch of assumed cheeriness the previous song might have spread. All other songs are – as usual – performed in French language, refining with the ethereally beautiful voice of Dame Pandora. She can use a wide spectrum of her vocal abilities and just rarely touches too high pitches.
Anyway, Exaudi Vocem Mean is a quiet, unbelievably dark and melancholic-draped masterpiece that captivates and takes you far away. It’s just beautiful.