Nathalie
Into The Flow

NATHALIE - Into The Flow

An album with both light and shadow, this is the second effort by Nathalie, an Italian-Belgian artist, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist halfway between Bjork and Tori Amos. Lights that embrace us with pleasure are surely in the tracks sung in English, where the artist manages to express herself better and follow the definitely "anglophile" (and Icelandic) mood of the music. Musical lights that envelop us, as the album is impeccable. From the dark progression of the opening track ("In a world of questions"), to the circular and intoxicating trance waltz of "In a trash can," to the delicate melodies of a cinematic piano à la Nyman meets Einaudi, Into the Flow certainly has a nice flow, shiny enough to please us. A good understanding of music clearly emerges here from Nathalie, who, as a multi-instrumentalist, knows how to skillfully shape the sound. Joining her in production and arrangements is Francesco Zampaglione, former Tiromancino, who definitely didn't hurt, on the contrary. What doesn't quite convince, and here the shadows come in, is Nathalie's voice, at times childish, like many impersonal little voices we're used to hearing in productions halfway between pop, electronic, and rock around the world (and the musical coordinates cited are the same that Nathalie navigates in Into the Flow), sometimes aggressive, robust, rock woman-like (as in "Smile In a Box," certainly the most convincing track on the album, where she almost reminds us of Bertè). Moreover, Nathalie falters with the tracks in Italian, particularly in "Tra le labbra," a boring track that lasts 3 minutes and 30 seconds but feels like it lasts an eternity. Perhaps it would have been better to have an album entirely in English with a greater interpretative personality in the lyrics and vocal melodies.