Carmen Consoli - Eva Contro Eva (Ita) (CD)

All Music Guide

On 2002's L'Eccezione, Carmen Consoli showed herself to be a mature, insightful writer capable of creating both soft, pensive songs and louder, more aggressive ones while always retaining her blend of introspection and impertinence that been displayed since her 1996 debut. Here, on Eva Contra Eva, the contemplativeness remains, but this time her guitars are solely acoustic and her thoughts are directed outward towards contemporary society. In fact, it seems as if Consoli feels she has a personal obligation to expose the hypocrisies that exist, something that, while perhaps noble and even correct, can come across a bit heavyhanded and sermonic at times ironic considering her neardisdain for organized religion (particularly evidenced in "Maria Catena"). Still, she makes her points clear, and is rather eloquent about doing so, each song a welllaidout scene, a detailed portrayal of life. Not that the singer spends the whole time criticizing sadder, gentler pieces like "Il Sorriso di Atla...ntide" and "Sulle Rive di Morfeo" are as much a part of the album's framework as the more biting commentary of "Tutto Su Eva" or "Signor Tentenna" but a good deal of Eva Contro Eva (which means "Eve Against Eve") is provocative and unabashedly disapproving, contrasting nicely with her voice, which can be almost fragile, floating delicately among the various strings and woodwinds, but always sure of itself and its purpose. Musically, Consoli pulls away from the American rock that dominated her earlier work, and to a lesser extent, L'Eccezione, focusing more on organic, acoustic instruments, including traditional Sicilian ones, which gives the album an older, earthy sound despite its very modern lyrical and chordal sensibilities. There's a lightness to it, much is part thanks to Consoli's strong sense of melody, that keeps everything grounded and enjoyable, and though there's nothing on Eva Contro Eva that's as immediately catchy as "Mulini a Vento" or "Moderato in Re Minore," the soft poppiness makes for songs that, nurtured by the same Sicilian dirt and sun and stone as the singer herself, grow over time into something silently powerful and complete. - Marisa Brown, All Music Guide Read more Less