Posted on 06/24/2008
Natalia Clavier is an Argentinian vocalist who wants to cover a lot of ground on Nectar, which examines the juices of her inner being. The album features elements of soul, funk, disco, folk, pop, dub, electronica, down tempo, and jazz, creating sounds that will definitely appeal to fans of Portishead, Jazzanova, Jaga Jazzist, Supreme Beings Of Leisure, and and Soulstice. Those who are familiar with Clavier will know that she has often performed in English and languages other than Spanish, so for this one she decided to go back to her roots and sing for herself, her home, and her people.

The album works as something to listen to as a chillout album, or something to dance the night away, but for those who may want to listen deeper, she has a lot to offer. Her songs would easily appeal to the likes of Laura Pausini and Alejandra Guzman, and with luck Clavier's career and songs will last as long as these two ladies. Her voice is neither strong nor weak; she fits perfectly in the middle and even when she tries to sing in a manner that is beyond her capabilities, she realizes this and turns around in the hopes of finding another path to make the song stronger. This shows up in "Dormida," but as far as showing her strengths, "Azul" is definitely a key track and one that will make Clara Hill fans turn around and take notice (it would be interesting if any of the guys in Jazzanova collaborated with her).

Nectar is a dreamy album, but for those who dream about electronic landscapes with a vocalist who has a love for the music. That in itself is not a rarity, but it seems much of the singers getting a lot of attention these days aren't ones who push themselves towards the heart of the song, and Clavier is someone who seems to make that effort. Her potential in the next few years is huge, and I hope she continues to add to her growing depth in future recordings.

- John Book