Valeria Matzner currently lives in British Columbia, but has embraced the community of musicians from South America who’ve immigrated to Vancouver and Toronto over the past 25 years. She was born in Montevideo, Uruguay into a musical family. She heard a mix of sounds from the region, such as bossa nova from Brazil, blended with American jazz and rock 'n' roll. Anima is marvelous set of Latin sounds featuring songs in Spanish, but the real stand-out among all the eight tracks that make up the album is her version of Radiohead’s “Lotus Flower,” first heard on the British band’s album The King of Limbs, self-released in 2011. It’s a great reinvention of the song compared to the original electronic pop recording. Clearly Matzner’s skill as a songwriter goes far beyond the conventional, much like her album. Scott Metcalfe (piano) is credited with all of the arrangements on the album and he’s kept it simple, with just enough harmonic interest to support Matzner’s limited yet passionate voice. Anima is beautifully recorded with a rounded sound that creates just the right feel for Matzner’s phrasing. It’s a dreamy album that won’t put you to sleep.