Malika Ayane
Grovigli

After nearly two years since the release of her beautiful debut album, one of the most delightful discoveries of recent times returns to the music scene. With a warm voice that evokes distant horizons (perhaps from her native Morocco), Malika Ayane confirms herself as an excellent artist, endowed with a talent, a style, and an elegance that is rarely found in other contemporary Italian artists. The maturity expressed in this latest work is the most tangible proof, offering a glimmer of hope to those who wish that the Italian music scene will reward those who truly deserve it, saving them from the oblivion that often befalls those who stand out from the crowd (did someone say L’Aura?).

The most amazing thing is that from the moment we let the notes dance in the air, we immediately realize how wonderfully radio-friendly and commercial this album is, while still being a highly appreciated product by those who know music well.

The honor of opening the album goes to "Ricomincio da qui", presented at the sixtieth edition of the Sanremo Festival. The song, rightfully awarded with the prestigious Mia Martini trophy by critics, was written by the girl in collaboration with Pacifico (as bad as it sounds, maybe he should stop singing and dedicate himself to being a full-time songwriter), taking inspiration from a poem by Jacques Prevert, with the expert touch of the excellent Ferdinando Arnò on the music (who handled most of the melodies in the album), and featuring the exquisite guest star Vince Mendoza, who has collaborated with the excellent Bjork, on strings. This song is wonderful in its sinuous progression, and it particularly strikes the listener with its lack of easily catchy choruses, a characteristic that places it opposite to the previous Sanremo song "Come Foglie".

From here onwards, after the initial chills, little pearls of Italian pop and more are expertly mixed, offering small warm emotions. The second track "Thoughts And Clouds" features vocals by Sandy Chambers, one of the three vocalists from the dance project that dominated the 90s, Corona ("Rithm of the Night" ring any bells?).  Further along in the tracklist, we are met with the cover of "La prima cosa bella" originally sung by Nicola Di Bari, the main theme of the soundtrack for Paolo Virzì’s latest film. This modern take on a 70s classic is simply captivating, a perfectly executed experiment.

"Little Brown Bear" is splendid, an intriguing duet with Paolo Conte, another important guest star, whom Malika further honors with the cover of his song "Chiamami adesso", a beautiful reinterpretation leveraging a sumptuous string arrangement. It's imperative to point out the lovely duet "Believe In Love" which Ayane sings with my least favorite Cesare Cremonini, her everyday life partner... And contrary to what one might think, the two voices blend perfectly, gathering more than a few approvals as the song progresses. "Satisfy My Soul" is also very beautiful, a track enriched with a few streaks of melodic rock, certainly one of the best episodes. But in the end, even the smaller tracks like "Brighter Than Sunshine" and "Sogna" are brimming with a depth that is rare to find in singles from much more celebrated artists.

In the end, when Malika’s voice stops floating through the house walls, one feels compelled to thank God for giving us this girl... Mind you, not because we are in the presence of a Bjork or a Pj, but simply because such well-crafted pop albums and such unique singers are not often seen around, especially in the crowded Italian market where the lookalikes of D’Alessio or Tatangelo or Pausini jostle for space...