Alice Smith
She

My relationship with the so-called black music, in a broad sense, has been and still is a complicated affair, an unofficial matter that moves very slowly, almost cautiously, amidst misunderstandings, wrong turns, and seemingly irreconcilable differences in styles, visions, perspectives; yet it moves, and that's what matters, and the credit goes entirely to the eccentric and delightful Imani Coppola; indeed, it was the talented Italian-African-New Yorker artist who opened a window for me onto this vast slice of pop music that was practically unexplored by me until the most recent times. She made me realize that there is a free zone, a line of contact between my universe and hers, intelligent, intriguing, non-advertised, and slightly unconventional proposals, just enough to press the right keys to gain my temperamental approval. Alice Smith has that touch of overstatement and uniqueness essential to earn my endorsement, an especially elegant and luxurious style, sophisticated without seeming forced, a fascinating personality that shines through from the cushioned notes of her second album, simply titled "She", to date the most pleasant and unexpected surprise of my musical 2013.

Thirty-five years old and with only two albums under her belt, this and her debut "For Lovers, Dreamers And Me" dating back to a somewhat distant 2006 for this Washington native singer-songwriter who chose the path of quality over the media barbarization of celebrity. A beautiful woman and a thinking mind, subtler than Billie Myers, less explosive and less creative in an absolute sense than Imani Coppola, Alice possesses refinement, taste, a sense of style, and a truly astounding voice; a powerful, very intense timbre with a sharp edge, slightly harsh, exotic, and sophisticated. Her singing seems tailor-made to please me, perfectly accommodating the melodies, showcasing all her style and expressiveness yet never overpowering, not a single run, no misplaced vocalization, not even a hint of a "style" Beyoncé high note/scream, no sterile display of technique, all combined with simple arrangements, no oddities, no electronics, just jazzy backgrounds that gracefully and impeccably accompany the feline melodies crafted by Alice Smith's voice. Love, sensations, and feelings are the themes tackled with great class in "She", ten songs of great finesse and obviously pronounced femininity. Especially striking is the brilliance of a song like "Cabaret", somewhere between a soft, relaxing night and a vibrant retro show, with a slight touch of irony, a coquettish and theatrical rhythm, and that demanding voice managed impeccably, like a race car in the hands of a wise and experienced driver, but beyond this splendid calling card, Alice Smith has much more to offer, alternating with class, good taste, and a sense of balance various moods in ballads such as the sweet and sensual "Loyalty" with its languid soul appeal, the dreamy idyll of "The One", the soft and melancholic "With You" and a darker and more disillusioned "Ocean", the only appearance of the acoustic guitar in an album where percussion, piano, and some light orchestration make up almost the entirety of the musical framework.

In this album, Alice Smith displays a particular attention to detail, great skill in finding the right arrangement, the little stroke of genius that can enrich a song and make it take a significant leap in quality, as evidenced by the short and incisive string interventions that make the R'n'B of "Another Love" even more brilliant and rhythmic, the discreet yet effective work of echoes and overdubs in the bittersweet "Shot", and the compelling piano line of the concluding title track, "She", a passionate whirlwind in which Alice makes ample use of her vocal power in a formidable refrain supported by a wall of sound of choruses. Ten songs and no sour notes, Alice Smith among her many merits also has the gift of synthesis, which is always a great thing, and it's also thanks to her consistency that this album is so effective and enjoyable; the essentials and nothing else, no pretension of forced modernity but a natural and spontaneous product. The fact that in the time span between Alice Smith's first and second albums, they had Rihanna record at least six or seven speaks volumes about how much the quality of the proposal matters to the big record industry, but I can understand them; their job is selling mass-market products, and I find it hard to imagine horny young guys and teenagers raised on Popstar/Top Girl even buying or downloading albums like this, not even with a cover like this, because, as you know, an easy audience also wants easy artists; I don't know if you catch the double entendre. However, for me, and I feel confident in stating for all listeners equipped with a decent number of neurons and a minimal sense of taste and style, Alice Smith's "She" represents an intriguing and valuable offering, which gives that particular satisfaction of betting blindly on a semi-unknown artist and being fully rewarded in return.