Dani Siciliano
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Warmly Recommended Sonic Universes

How I love this cold and minimalistic electro-synth-pop, the result of Ani Siciliano's skillful carving work, partner and muse of the more famous Herbert, who navigates through adjacent and similar territories. This strange hybrid dressed as a song is warmed by Ani's husky and captivating voice, which in some ways recalls the later manner of Everything But The Girl where, however, the music has merely a dance attitude, but you can tell it's just an excuse to weave more finely crafted textures and sounds (see the opening track "Same", always on the verge of exploding into an overtly danceable 4/4 rhythm without ever succeeding). Electronic music with elements ranging from jazz to electrified bossa nova ("Comes As You Are"), brushing themes and grooves that are very akin to the latest Talking Heads, just to name one, reaching what I consider the masterpiece of the album, that "Walk The Line" irresistibly trendy in its silly electro/twist simplicity (I can picture them at the club, everyone marking the various "one-two-three..." before launching into wild rhythms... watch out DJ, I've warned you, then I want the royalties!). It then moves from more intimate atmospheres à la Brian Eno ("One String") to more contaminated pieces ("Red" with trumpet, contrabassoon, and violin flourishes) until closing with a track that has very little electronic air: the splendid "Remember To Forget" with violins, orchestra, and double bass, almost further astonishing and completely disorienting the listener.

A "high-end" pop, classy, never dull, eclectic but without overdoing it that takes you by the hand and literally makes you enter the unique and unmistakable sonic universe of a singer who, if properly pushed or discovered by the right producer, will soon make a name for herself. Ravonettes: please drop the instruments and listen to some original and "non-aligned" pop before picking up a guitar again: we can manage 50s songs on our own, thank you.