Erica Mou
È

In recent years, the high bloom of emerging artists who often ride the wave of followers that can be garnered from the Web and various social networks is now a fact.

You need to know how to choose, though. Many works have solid structures, with people behind them investing money and energy in products steeped in art. Others do not. They seem like many plastic packages ready to decompose in the heat.

This album is a marvel.

Erica Mou was born in Bisceglie in 1990. From a young age - because now she's old, yes! - she became passionate about music, starting to study both singing and guitar with satisfactory results. Ani Di Franco, Joni Mitchell, Elliott Smith, but also the Italians Carmen Consoli, Veronica Marchi, and the Latin soul of Battisti surely are among the regular listens of the Apulian singer-songwriter who, despite her tender age, writes, in my opinion, truly tangible things. 

This "È" sees the light only this year but is the godchild of "Bacio ancora le ferite," an unofficial album by Erica released in 2009. Already in that album, however, all her crystalline qualities were evident. 

Earlier, reference was made to people who invest money and energy in art. A bit like in the Renaissance. Well. How can we not mention that very fine genius of Caterina Caselli, who has elevated Erica to the sky by bringing her into her stable, giving her confidence and, at the same time, granting her total artistic freedom - something, in my opinion, crucial especially for a musician at the first trials. 
And how can we not give space to the producer Valgeir Sigurðsson? An Icelandic, a cultured arranger, he gave breath to this album. Even putting aside those Icelandic sounds dear to him (and not only) - I hope - like those of Amiina or Sigur Rós, Valgeir focused everything on the "Erica Mou" album, without musical quotes or varied contaminatio. From here arises the importance given to the vocal parts that highlight the singer-songwriter's excellent vocal qualities.

The album's tracklist entrusts the opening to "Oltre", one of the best texts and songs of the entire work, then moving to "Giungla," chosen as the lead single. Between "La neve sul Mare", a childhood memory of Erica, and "È" which gives the album its title, we arrive at "E Mi", already present in "Bacio ancora le ferite," which brilliantly closes an album that, if it were a painting, would be delicate as a snowy afternoon seen from the window. "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac, masterfully covered by the artist from Bisceglie, is the bonus track, also featured in a well-known TV commercial.

What else to mention about this album?
Nothing. Take it, listen to it, read the lyrics, and listen to it again. It will not disappoint you.
Songwriting in Italy is not officially dead. There are those who still kiss the wounds.

"The chair leaning against the wall doesn't seem broken."