Nathalie
Anima di vento

"Anima di Vento", that is: how to definitively shake off the "X-Factor" label. Because if there's one curse Nathalie has been carrying for the past three years, it's coming out of the much-despised talent show, no less as a winner (her original song "In Punta di Piedi" was presented at the finale of the fourth edition), which has prevented her from gaining the sympathy of the mature audience she targets, who erroneously and superficially labeled her as the usual low-quality product churned out by such shows. It's truly a great shame because seeing her considered on the same level as the likes of Valerio Scanu, Marco Carta, and Emma Marrone almost angers you: here we're not dealing with just any girl more concerned with tending to her hair than singing decently in front of a microphone, but with a woman who was already living off music before joining "X-Factor" (a professional singing teacher, not just any amateur) and who has a more than decent experience in clubs and with a gothic metal band, Damage Done (I recommend you listen to their single "Thorns").

And now, two years after that "Vivo Sospesa" which partly succeeded in dispelling many prejudices surrounding her, Nathalie returns with an album that, between intimacy and aggressiveness, light and shadow, unveils a different side of her music: those expecting a follow-up to her debut will be disappointed, as in "Anima di Vento" the "amosian" piano-pop style of the previous album gives way to an indie-rock sound that is decidedly sharper. Recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London, the Italian-Belgian singer-songwriter's latest effort is presented as a journey into her intimacy that alternates more aggressive moments ("Parole Forti", "L'Orizzonte") with those airy and expansive ones, almost dreamlike (the beautiful title-track, "Come un Aquilone" and "L'Essenza", a touching duet with Battiato) only to then plunge back into the darker depths of her soul ("La Verità", sung with the talented singer-songwriter Toni Child, and "Playing with Your Dolls", probably the two most successful tracks of the set). The whole is enhanced by Nathalie's voice, which proves versatile and capable of conveying emotions whether she's venting her anger or treading gentler, more restrained paths, along with lyrics that, while perhaps not perfect, are always effective and pleasant, and indeed much more communicative than those in "Vivo Sospesa" (particularly successful are those of the title-track and "La Verità").

All in all, "Anima di Vento" is an honest and pleasantly crafted album, that doesn’t innovate anything, nor does its author have the arrogance to necessarily do so, an album that will not please everyone and perhaps will not change the minds of those who condemn Nathalie just because she came out of a talent show. The fact is that albums like this are not exactly made by the hundreds in Italy, and if only our pop-rock music were all on this level! Recommended listening for skeptics and generally for those looking for a pleasant album, without expecting a masterpiece on the level, for instance, of a "Nido" or "La Quinta Stagione" by Cristina Donà.

Note: the rating would be 3.5 (I take this opportunity, at this point, to kindly ask the staff to allow reviewers to assign half ratings)