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Rating:
THE REVIEW
A negligible risk. She took one of those big, big risks.
In single file, all the "divas" of song, especially those inclined towards jazz, have succumbed to the temptation of the "essential", "acoustic" album.
Result: women gleefully making love to the microphone, overwhelmed by the delusion of omnipotence provoked by the fact that there are no instruments to "compete" with their voice, giving vent to the worst narcissisms.
Talented, of course... but I pass.
And Cri'? I was skeptical at the thought.
Well, she emerged as a true champion. With her usual "confident humility", she became an integral part of a series of arrangements in which one can only get lost...
And so we have a "Piccola faccia" that winks a little at Nick Drake, a little at Crosby Stills Nash & Young; an "Aridità dell'aria" that not even Joni Mitchell could match; a "Goccia" that seems to come out of Pink Floyd's "Meddle"; and "Salti nell'aria" that transform Bjork and cabaret into a semi-prog treatise on classical harmony. There's even room to revive a hit from the eighties by Terence Trent d'Arby (remember him?), "Sign your name".
And so on, from one clever idea to the next, until the concluding "Universo", which you could play with bagpipes in mazurka time and it would still be beautiful.
The only negative note (because there is one): I found the duet with Sangiorgi cloying. Predictable and absurdly monochord. Question: is it really necessary to cry and sob like Little Red Riding Hood in the woods, even in a light and consolatory song like "Settembre"? What's the point of that interpretation?
He pulls out the usual vocal trick (that little falsetto hop), and the usual desperate vibratos, which appear here glaringly out of context. Almost a parody; Crozza or Fiorello would have done it exactly like this. But he's forgiven; after all, the "fault" lies with Donà, who spoiled us with features by Mr. Robert Wyatt. And it's certainly not the "negramaro" Giuliano's fault if nature placed him on a different rung...
In conclusion: maximum results with minimal resources. Not bad, really not bad...
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Summary by Bot
Cristina Donà takes a bold risk with 'Piccola Faccia', an acoustic album that avoids typical vocal narcissism. The reviewer praises its rich arrangements and influences from iconic artists like Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell. Though the duet with Sangiorgi is critiqued as predictable, the album overall delivers maximum impact with minimal resources.Tracklist
Cristina Donà
Cristina Donà is an Italian singer‑songwriter active since the late 1990s. Her debut Tregua (1997), produced by Manuel Agnelli, introduced a poetic voice blending alternative rock and intimate songwriting. Acclaimed albums include Nido, Dove sei tu, La quinta stagione, Torno a casa a piedi, Così Vicini and deSidera. She has collaborated with Robert Wyatt and others, and won the Targa Tenco (2015) for the song Il senso delle cose.10 Reviews
