Search - Carmen Consoli :: L'eccezione

Let's face it: the leading italian female artist

Indian music lover | Portland, Oregon | 07/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"it feels good to say that laura pausini and giorgia and irene grandi are doing good things in terms of the new generation of italian pop by WOMEN...but let's face it: a cursory listening of one or two carmen consoli CDs quickly leads one to the conclusion that she is the ONLY contemporary female italian vocalist who is truly INVESTED in her ART....there is no comparison....she is the leading female italian pop singer (describing her as the Italian PJ Harvey sells Carmen short)...IF NOT ...she is The Best...I want to give Nek and Mango and Tiziano a chance...but....I don't know..Carmen's music is a lot more varied ...it's more interesting than those guys'....she may very well be the best period! Bar none!"

Carmen's sensitivity, intelligence, and pure talent as a son

T. Luck | Boh. | 12/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every song on L'ECCEZIONE is a little Italian pop classic. "Moderato in Re Minore" is likely my absolute favorite (I find it very moving). The melodies here can be unbelievably sweet, as in "Moderato" or "Venti del Nord", or grinding rock, as in "Matilde Odiava i Gatti" or "Fiori d'arancio". Cantautore (singer-songwriter) Carmen's voice is breathy and vulnerable, yet conveys strength and conviction. She is a master of simple guitar melody (as evidenced on some of the songs here), and these melodies are often enhanced with more traditional Rock effects. Accompanying mandolins and flute (here and there) add one more heavenly layer to these beautiful tunes. "Masino" is in Sicilian, and though one may not understand the language, the song has an engaging melody. Carmen has a strong following in Italy and is considered an important artist. I've rated some rather "lite" vocalist/musicians highly as well, but I know the difference between well-crafted fluff and artists who communicate the nuances of ambivalence and pain.



The following excerpt may not be the best or most representative example of her work -- it's a favorite refrain, from "Moderato in Re Minore":



...Ed avrebbe voluto trovare al suo fianco / una compagna premurosa e amabile... / Ed avrebbe voluto sentire il calore di un altro corpo sotto le coperte...



...And he would've liked to have found a thoughtful and pleasant companion at his side / And he would've liked to feel the warmth of another body beneath the covers...



N.B. You can download a 4-part (Italian-language) MTV Storytellers interview with Carmen Consoli, available FREE from the iTunes store (find the files under World Music)."