Vox Dei - La Biblia (1997 Replayed Album)
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Album: Vox Dei - La Biblia (Replayed Album)
Released: 1997
Genre: Heavy Psych-, Progressive Rock
Gnosis Rating: Not rated yet
WEA - 3981-21497-2
1997 completely replayed version of this psych/prog masterpiece; the first concept album of Rock in Spanish, at least on these shores. Featuring the original line up, guests and orchestral arrangements, it also includes two previously unreleased tracks from a never issued future album - Viajero Inmovil Records
The Three Musketeers were actually four. To the three pioneering foundation groups of Argentine Rock (Los Gatos, Manal and Almendra) we should add a fourth: Vox Dei.
Vox Dei was formed in Quilmes (a big suburb beer factory city South of Buenos Aires). First called Mach 4, they used to sing in English until they heard Manal and Almendra. Producers Pedro Puj? and Jorge Älvarez signed them for their label Mandioca not before suggesting to them that they change their name after ‘‘Vox Populi, Vox Dei’‘ (in Latin: ‘‘The word of the people is the Word of God’‘).
Their first single (titled Sin Ropa) was straightforward rock & blues. The a-side ‘‘Azäcar amarga’‘ was also included on the compilation LP Mandioca Underground (MLP 331).
After several gigs in Buenos Aires they released their second single for Mandioca: ‘‘Presente’‘ b/w the rock & roll ‘‘Dr. Jekill’‘. ‘‘Presente’‘, now a big classic, is a beautiful ballad with superb lyrics (about how ephemeral life is, thus the importance of ‘‘living the present time’‘).
Caliente, their excellent first album, followed. This LP included rock & blues numbers such as ‘‘Reflejos’‘, ‘‘Cuero’‘, ‘‘Compulsi?n’‘ or ‘‘Total qui’‘, with some soul-rock -’‘No es por falta de suerte’‘- and great ballads like the aforementioned ‘‘Presente’‘ and ‘‘Canci?n para una mujer (que no est?)’‘, also released as a single.
By mid 1970, Mandioca went bankrupt and Vox Dei wound up on the label Disc Jockey. The group was into heavy work composing a conceptual album based on The Holy Bible (no less!). For several reasons Yody Godoy left during the recording sessions. Nevertheless the double LP was finally released as La Biblia, Vox Dei's indisputable masterpiece.
La Biblia is magnificent for both its music and lyrics. Soulé did a terrific job summarising in just a few lines the most important facts of the Holy Book. Musically the band turned hard-psycho, with chirping driven guitars et al. ‘‘Genesis’‘, ‘‘Las Guerras’‘, ‘‘Profec?as’‘ and especially ‘‘Libros Sapienciales’‘ turned into Vox Dei standards. A truly wonderful album taht is absolutely recommended!
To promote La Biblia live, guitarist Nacho Smilari (ex La Barra de Chocolate, and future Piel de Pueblo and Cuero) joined Vox Dei. With this line-up they also recorded a single with two non-album tracks.
Jerem?as Pies de Plomo, their next album, found the power trio back to hard rock and blues. Another excellent album, Jerem?as includes great songs like ‘‘Jerem?as’‘, ‘‘Detros del vidrio’‘, ‘‘Ritmo y blues con arm?nicas’‘ (yet another Soul? classic) and the ballad ‘‘Sin separarnos m?s’‘. Soulé does a wonderful job both with his guitar and harp (he might be the best rock harmonica player in Argentina). A rare single with picture sleeve was also released from this LP.
Their next album, Cuero Caliente, was actually a remake of their debut. Vox Dei (as a trio) re recorded all songs from Caliente minus ‘‘No es por falta de suerte’‘, plus ‘‘Az?car amarga’‘ and ‘‘Dr Jekill’‘ (from the singles). The result was good enough to satisfy the needs of those who did not own the original LP (hard to find even in those days).
The band was filmed for the movie Rock hasta que se ponga el Sol playing ‘‘Jerem?as, pies de plomo’‘ and ‘‘Las Guerras’‘ (the latter inside a Methodist Church). Since they were on another label, their performance was not included on the soundtrack album.
Then Vox Dei signed for CBS and recorded a very good album -Es una nube no hay duda- with better production. Best moments are the title track (written by Quiroga, now a classic), ‘‘La verdadera historia de Sam, el monta??s’‘ and ‘‘Prom?teme que nunca me diros adi?s’‘.
To conclude their contract with Disc Jockey a live album was released. La nave infernal was recorded during a national tour and featured old and unreleased songs. Unfortunately the sound quality is far from being good, but the performance is so energetic that the album is fun to listen to. Live albums were unusual in those days for a rock group in Argentina.
At this point we can say that the good days for Vox Dei were over. In 1974 they recorded a second album for CBS: Vox Dei para Vox Dei, a mediocre effort. Then Ricardo Soul? quit and the story changed.
Quiroga and Basoalto released two disappointing albums: Estamos en la pecera with Carlos Michelini on guitar and vocals, and Ciego de Siglos with Raul Fernandez and Enrique ‘‘Avellaneda’‘ Diaz on guitar (both ex-La Maquina).
Ricardo Soulé went to England and met band The Heavy Metal Kids. This group recorded some Soul? songs for their debut album. In 1976, back in Argentina, Ricardo recruited brothers Rodolfo and Alejandro Pensa (bass & drums) and released Vuelta a Casa (RCA AVS-4519) a very good hard rock and blues album and a single with two non-LP tracks (‘‘Cuentame dulce’‘ b/w ‘‘Inexplicable para m?’‘ [RCA Vik 31A-2683]). (Note: the album was also recorded in English; the vinyl version was never released, but these sessions were included as bonus on the CD).
In 1978 Soulé rejoined Vox Dei and the old trio recorded a new album for Polygram, the satisfactory Gata de Noche (Polydor 2387160). However, Vox Dei sort of split again.
Willie Quiroga formed a heavy metal group, Destroyer, and released an album in 1982. Soul? recorded two more solo albums in 1982 and 1985.
Not friends enough, not enemies enough, Soulé, Quiroga and Basoalto occasionally reunited... occasionally split. They had a big successful comeback in 1986, split again, toured again together and so forth.
‘‘Presente’‘ goes like this: ‘‘All things have an ending/ nothing can avoid that/ all things have a conclusion/ everything must end... ". Maybe Vox Dei should listen to their own songs!
All their LPs, except Mandioca's Caliente, have been reissued on vinyl -sometimes with different covers. Of all compilations Lo Mejor de Vox Dei (Disc Jockey 11077) and Los exitos de Vox Dei (Disc Jockey 14022) are recommended.
Their entire albums with Soulé are available on CD. The CD version of Caliente includes the Mandioca singles as bonus.
Note: A new version of La Biblia (Talent SE-515) -performed by Billy Bond and other artists- was released in 1974. Vox Dei members did not play on this album, which is reviewed separately.
A newly recorded studio version of La Biblia, featuring 90s rock stars Andrés Calamaro, Alejandro Lerner and Fito Páez joining Vox Dei, was released by Warner Music in 1997. - The Magic Land: A guide to Beat, Psychedelic and Progressive Rock music between 1966 & 1977 in Argentina and Uruguay
1 Génesis (06:42)
2 Moisés (09:27)
3 Guerras (08:02)
4 Libros Sapienciales (07:09)
5 Profecías (02:15)
Cristo - Nacimiento:
6 Muerte y Resurrección (12:25)
7 Apocalipsis (04:19)
Bonus Track - El Manto de Elias:
8 Obertura, I° Movimiento (05:37)
9 II° Movimiento (04:00)
Rubén Basoalto
Willy Quiroga
Ricardo Soulé
ARTISTAS INVITADOS:
Andrés Calamaro
Alejandro Lerner
Fito Páez
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