Orkus, 11 (November 1998)
Jocelyn Montgomery with David Lynch "Lux Vivens" CD Polydor
Anläßlich des 900. Geburtstages der Mystikerin Hildegard von Bingen wurde un in diesm Jahr einige Produktionen beschert, die sich mit ihrem musikalischen Werk befassen. Auch diese Produktion trägt den Untertitel "The music of Hildegard von Bingen" . "Lux Vivens" ist das Debutalbum der in Amerika lebenden Britin Jocelyn Montgomery, die sich hier mit keinem geringeren als dem Kultregisseur David Lynch zusammengetan hat. Herausgekommen ist dabei ein sehr ruhiges, spirituelles Werk, das den Hörer zuweilen auch an Filmmusik erinnert. Jocelyns helle, klare, durchdringende Stimme ist in ein sehr harmonisches Klanggebilde aus minimalistischen, unaufdringlichen Keyboardklängen eingebettet. Es entsteht eine friedliche, ruhige Atmosphäre. Die Musik eignet sich hervorragend als Entspannungs- und Meditationsmusik, der Blick des Hörers wendet sich nach innen; somit ist dieses Album eine gelungene Umsetzung des Werkes der Mystikerin.

JOCELYN MONTGOMERY WITH DAVID LYNCH - Lux Vivens: The Music of Hildegard Von Bingen (Advance CD, Mammoth, Twelth century nun pop) And now for something completely different. This puts most gothic releases to shame, although the actual pieces were written hundreds of years ago by a German nun named Hildegard Von Bingen. The artist? Jocelyn Montgomery wasn't a professional singer until David Lynch approached her as she was singing during a walk in the Hollywood Hills. Mr. Lynch approached Ms. Montgomery, and within weeks she was in his studio recording her first album. And WHAT an album it is. These monk-like pieces sound totally incredible recorded with digital effects. "Kyrie" in particular is both eerie and spacey. Jocelyn has a knockout voice that is so clear it could break glass monkhearts. An absolutely beautiful collection of tunes that just doesn't fit in, and that is a VERY GOOD THING. Spellbinding. (Rating: 5)

eonline preview
Lux Vivens Jocelyn Montgomery Mammoth Records Here's one for the strange-but-true books. Remember how quirky director David Lynch teamed up with songbird Julee Cruise a few years ago for an album of Gothic ditties? Well, the guy's found a new warbler in young Angeleno Jocelyn Montgomery, with whom he grimly, texturally produces as she monastically intones the historic music of Hildegard von Bingen. Look that up in yer Funk & Wagnalls!

splendidzine

If there's a single lesson to be learned from Lux Vivens, it's that you should never be afraid to sing out loud -- Montgomery owes her recording contract to a walk in the Hollywood Hills, during which an impromptu bit of singing was overheard by David ("Twin Peaks") Lynch, who promptly gave her a record deal and wound up producing the album. Don't let the Lynch connection give you the wrong idea -- this isn't an album of lingering weirdness and quirky indulgence. Lux Vivens takes a more modern approach to the works of Hildegard von Bingen, but the result remains pristine and reverent, placing Montgomery's delicate voice in front of a rich backdrop of keyboard textures and pastoral sound effects. Montgomery's "Virdissima", for instance, is thoroughly contemporary compared to a classical, "churchy" interpretation, but is far more austere than, say, anything on the most recent Loreena McKennitt CD. Those wary of Enigma-style beat-grafting or Miranda Sex Garden remixes can rest easily -- Lux Vivens remains true to its source material, wrapping Montgomery's angelic singing in layer upon layer of delicate ambient synthesizer-gauze. Only the sound-effect piece "Battle and Transition" seems out of place, creating an atmosphere that's edgier and darker than the rest of the disc. Lux Vivens is a striking debut, perhaps because, just as on that fateful walk, Montgomery sings unselfconsciously, unaware of listeners -- and that's an approach that suits her material very well. Jocelyn Montgomery (with David Lynch) Lux Vivens Mammoth CD Review by George Zahora