Fado Curvo

by

Mariza

Edit

Mariza does it again - her second album is a work of art - she transfixes you with that voice that has so much depth and emotion. There are some fados, which are true to the traditional style both melancholic and in the Portuguese Folklore style - Primavera, Vielas de Alfma, Feira de Castro and Fado Curvo. This will please those who are purist. However, she also pushes the fado style to a new level and dimension, that has jazz influences - this can be heard in O Silencio da guitarra, Retrato, Entre o rio e a razao.

The last track Aneis do meu Cabelo is my favourite - very much in the genre of fado - melancholic, she sings about not mourning her death or visiting her grave, but instead to keep forever the curls of her hair. In this 'fado' Mariza sings accompanied by a piano - her voice is so exposed and she expresses every word, emotion and breath - the song is so emotionally moving. Shut your eyes when you listen to this fado and you could almost imagine that she is sitting in your room singing to you.

This is a must album for any Mariza fans or anyone wanting to be introduced to Portugal's most treasured art form - Fado.

The Queen of Fado, Amalia lives on in Mariza.

I found this disappointing after Mariza's debut album, Fado em Mim, which has much better material. It is also disappointing when set beside some recent albums by other fadistas like Misia, Camane, Mafalda Arnauth, etc. Of course, her remarkable voice is still there, and there's no doubt it is the nearest voice in modern fado to that of the late Amalia Rodrigues (with the possible exception of Misia, who chooses her material much much more carefully). Mariza needs a little more maturity, and perhaps better guidance in what fados to sing. If she gets it right, she will truly become the new Queen of Fado, but for the moment my money's on Misia.