It’s been a while since Chiara Berardelli has brought something new to these ears. Her first album came out all the way back in 2010 but that album, nonetheless, is still on regular rotation on the CD player of love. The time is now, her new album is called “My Big Mouth” and it, in my opinion fortunately, brings more of the same.
The six songs contained therein are therefore still songs of the heart and Ms. Berardelli makes her points with the eloquence expected of her. “Drift”, in particular, would be as at home in her first album as it is here. It is also clear that, as before, maturity is the key to the songs here with the reflective precision of “Set Yourself Free” covering the intellectual and emotional bases with practised ease. The title track, likewise, is a tidily constructed, and unashamedly sentimental, song written in ink coloured with both heartbreak and joy.
It’s not all broken hearts and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream though for “Jenny”, although subtly referencing the joys of stalking, is a much more playful song right down to the inclusion of the most metrosexual rap you will hear this side of a diversity course.
Chiara Berardelli once more displays her talent for all to enjoy and my only disappointment is that the four years since her first album have yielded but six songs. Surely there must be more in her heart than that?
Available from Bandcamp.