Steppin' On Water

Seemingly a keen advocate for recycling, fans of Italian pop chanteuse Elisa Toffoli may find her constant stream of similar releases rather hard to differentiate. In addition to various international editions, compilations, and live albums, the 34-year-old has constantly revisited her back catalog through her studio efforts, most notably on 2010's Ivy, a collection of acoustic reworkings which scored her a seventh successive Top Ten entry in her homeland. Targeted at the U.S. market, Steppin' On Water is yet another hodge-podge collection of tracks which, rather frustratingly for die-hard fans, combines previously unreleased material with well-worn recordings. Five cuts appear from her last effort, including the jangly, early Cranberries-esque "Nostalgia," the brave, minimal cover version of Queens of the Stone Age's stoner rock anthem "I Never Came," and the slow-building theatrics of "Lullaby," while the angelic choral balladry of "Eppure Sentire" is treated to an English-language translation ("One Step Away"), as is the shimmering torch song "Gil Ostacoli Del Cuore" ("So Much of Me"). Elsewhere there are three new songs taken from the soundtrack to Roberto Faenza's Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You, from the contemplative acoustic folk of "Love Is Requited" to the authentic 1930s jazz of "Apologize" to the languid lounge pop of "Just as One," while a stripped-back rendition of So You Think You Can Dance favorite "Dancing," performed live from Teatro Donizelli in 2011, rounds off the rather arbitrary proceedings. The utterly charming material on Steppin' On Water proves Elisa's reputation as one of Italy's finest vocalists is easily deserved, but the fact that most of it is readily available elsewhere means it's perhaps her least essential release. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi