Missincat’s “Wow” is the perfect soundtrack for its artwork, clearly representing an encounter between chamber music and intimate folk. Unpretentious, happy-go-lucky, country in the instrumental side and catchy in its pop-ish approach. Caterina Barbieri is an exported Italian songwriter who decided to expatriate to Berlin, getting influenced by its atmosphere for the debut “Back on My Feet”, thanks to which she supported Amy Winehouse in one of her last tours.
Caterina found in the English singing the best expression of a carefree sound, in which a massive variety of instruments, such as banjo, piano, guitar and strings alternate with some minimal acoustic tracks (“Fly High”, “LIttle Birdie”). Feist’s pop meets up with Alessi’s Ark melancholic folk, using violins and acoustic guitars as a main device (“Wide Open Wings”, “The House by The River”). Some Norah Jones-esque country incursions are provided in “I Wish I Could Allow”, in which the intimate approach is twisted by the catchy tunes and lyrics. Indeed, lyrics themselves are chosen to emphasize the musicality of the songs, with some puns that blend in with trumpets and violins (“Dare to Dare”). We are surprised by some quite childish and choral tracks, in which a wide range of instrument literally plays with the vocals, almost reaching a Karen Elson-like cabaret atmosphere (“Try Me”, “No Sleep”, “Distracted”). However, there are still some pseudo ballads (“Just in my Head”) and a spaghetti-western hint in “If You Make Me Happy”, that swings between Danger Mouse & Luppi’s “Rome” and Ennio Morricone’s soundtracks. It’s a pity that the Italian-language duet with the songwriter Dente cannot keep the level of the other tracks, mostly due to the power of expression of her vocals in English, which almost recall Kimya Dawson and Antsy Pants, and in the Italian performance lose its delicate and characteristic vibe. All in all, this is a release that’s worth to savour now that Spring is approach, with its unpretentious and straightforward tracks, quite appropriate for a whole afternoon spent in our bedrooms, exactly like we used to do when we were teenagers.
[box title=”English Version: Missincat – Wow” color=”#5C0820″]
Tracklist
Wide Open Wings | The House By The River | I Wish You Could Allow | Fly High | Try Me |Distracted | No Sleep | If You Make Me Happy | Little Birdie | Just In My Head | Dare To Dare | Capita [/box]
