Cape Verde music reviews

On this album, Cape Verde's greatest export to the world delivers another exquisite collection of mournful and yearning songs in her moving, bluesy voice. She sings in creolised Portuguese and the style (morna) is a mix of the Portuguese fado and African rhythms. Although Cape Verde lies just off the West African coast, this style has little in common with the mainland sounds from countries like Senegal or Mali. The instrumental mix includes guitars, the special rhythm guitar called cavaquino and even a clarinet to create an engaging polyrhythmic backing for Cesaria's graceful vocal style. Strangely, the sad songs have an uplifting effect on the spirit. Of the slower songs, my favourites are Ess Pais and Zebra, whilst the funkiest uptempo numbers are Quem Bo and Mae Velha. The track Pe Di Boi includes a lovely whistling interlude. The foot tapping dance track Sangue de Beirona is equally inspiring. This is an excellent album by one of the greatest artists in World Music today.

Oh how I love Cesaria! As always when I visit Barnes & Nobles I go to the International music section. As my eyes scanned the wide selection of world music, Cesaria's face stood out. This woman reminds of Celia Cruz -love her too, may her soul rest in peace -I said to myself and I bet she's a wonderful singer. All I needed to hear was the song "Sodade" and that was it. I fell in love with Cesaria's music. Like Celia Cruz she has the voice that captures your attention and sends chills down your spine - so electrifying it's beautiful! I currently one three of Cesaria's albums - THe Very Best of, Cabo Verde, and Voz D'Amor! THe next albums I want to get are Sao Vincente di Longe and Cesaria!
For the past few months I've been listening to Cesaria's music more than anyone elses! I can relate so much to the lyrics of her music and the style being that I'm from the Caribbean. I feel as if I've also lived the Capeverdian experience! I would like to visit someday! Viva Cesaria a reina da morna!

I was sailing with some friends on an incredible trip to Africa, and we stopped briefly at the small island of Cabo Verde. I had never heard of Cesaria Evora before. I had really never heard much about Cabo Verde before this trip. In a small music/souvenier shop near the port, I heard this CD playing. I was hooked immediately. I bought a CD for myself and several for friends back home, and have never been more delighted with a chance find. My friends are still thanking me.

Cabo Verde was colonized by the Portuguese, and the combination of the African and Portuguese cultures makes for some fabulous music - a little similar to sounds from Brazil. The music on this CD is a combination of the 'fado' from Portugal, mixed with the Brazilian ballad-like 'choro,' and soulful 'forros,' along with Cape Verde's own particular island sound. There is no better way to understand this wonderful, nuanced music than to listen to it. And Ms. Evora, herself, plays her voice and makes a music that is very much her own.

The nostalgic "Partida," "Mar e Morada de Soledad," and "Ess Pais," are sung with a sadness and longing that evoke much emotion. Other cuts, like "Tchintchirote," and "Sangue de Beirona" make me want to just get up and dance to the Oh So Sensual Beat! It is Ms. Evora's soft, silky-smooth, engaging voice that is so special. She is backed by strings - the guitar and an instrument called the 'cavaquinho'- but the rhythms are pure island. A terrific CD! You will enjoy it!

If you can find this, do get it. It's a great, ethnic, unusual collection of Cape Verde. Voices, drum, instruments have a great endearing quality!

This is a wonderful CD, danceable,elegant, soulful. 74 minutes of music spread over 19 tracks. Perfect for the beach or long slow hot afternoons turning into nights. I listen to this in traffic and it never fails to put me in a better mood. Most of the artists on the album are female and if you like Cesaria Evora, Susanna Baca or Omara Portuondo than you will dig this.

This is one of my favorite CDs. My husband and I got engaged listening to it! But that isn't the only reason I like it so much. The music is absolutely beautiful!

this is one of the best groups in south america, his sound is amazing, "pancho sazo" , his vocalist is the best, i recomend this group, jazz, folk, progresive, un gran grupo para un gran pais, buena honda hermanos sudamericanos, seamos uno!!

This band has a long history in Chile. I have picked up two of their cds while I was down there. Medio Dia is an exellent sample of their music but it gets better. If you can find an outlet for their music buy any of their cds. Buena musica que me gusta mucho. Compra sus disco.

En Chile, este grupo rompe los moldes de las etiquetas, un grupo de m�sica popular contemp�ranea, o un grupo rock progresivo, o un grupo folk-jazz, o algo nuevo. Congreso, un conjunto de ideas musicales hechas canci�n y excelentes instrumentales. Se puede decir world music, aunque se queda peque�o... m�sica original en su extremo, o m�sica chilena futurista, o hacer m�sica del mundo aqu� al sur del mundo. Escuchalo y disfrutalo como yo, que tengo toda su discograf�a, entrevistas, fotos, y el placer de escuchar, solo eso, Congreso al mediod�a, en la ma�ana o en la noche. En mi casa o en un recital.

Putumayo is a great vehicle for touring the world -- you can do it from the comfort of your own home by way of some incredible music. This particular disc is an enchanting and rhythmic look at Africa and its many different musical styles. According to the accompanying and extremely informative booklet, Africa is home to over 50 countries, 1,000 different languages, and 3,000 different tribes. That would make this disc a brief glimpse of all Africa has to offer in the music world, even though it is a very comprehensive sampling - ten songs from seven different countries.

Many cultures have influenced the music of Africa over the years, adding to a rich diversity of both music and the instruments with which to play music. The music found here is as beautiful and untamable as the African landscape - showing the strong unbreakable spirit of a strong, enduring, and culturally rich people. As well as containing two previously unreleased tracks of known artists, this disc also contains music of people that have never been heard outside of their marketing areas before. A bona fide treasure to care for and enjoy.

Fundo Di Matu is sung in Crioulo, which is a blend of African languages local to the Guinea Bissau and Portuguese, which is the main language of Guinea Bissau. Manuel Leal Emidio Costa, or Manecas Costa, first released this song on his album of the same name in 1999. Fundo Di Matu means Deep in the Forest and the rhythms of this piece will have you swaying and moving to the music before you realize what has happened, as Manecas' emotion laden lyrics dance around the melody.

Les Go is local slang along the Ivory Coast for "The Girls." This group is fronted by not one, but three young women who are a part of something so much larger - the L'Ensemble Koteba d'Abidjan. The famed dance/ theatre/ music company which was established in the city of Abidjan in order to preserve the Mandingo culture. The director of this school brought the three girls together, and now they mix their cultural music with popular Western music to bring about their own unique and most definitely unique sound. The lyrics of this piece are in Bambara, the language of Mali. In this track can be heard the n'goni (a four stringed lute-like instrument), Malian flutes, drums, and even some modern studio effects. The end result is a stunning and flavourful almost pop sounding track.

Ke Cu Minino Na Tchora is another interesting piece with a definite Reggae influence. The lyrics are completely at odds with the upbeat, chipper melody. The electric guitar has a bit of a spotlight, dancing all about the drum beat and bringing a smile - until you read the lyrics, that is. The Criolu lyrics describe the pain and suffering which comes with war, and focuses on the children thus affected. Bidinte has a strong love for music, according to the liner notes he even changed his religion to Catholic so that he could play the priests guitar! Incredible spirit and drive are combined with some serious talent where this young man is concerned. I hope to hear more of his work in time.

Not only is this a great way to expose yourself to African music, it is a great dance disc. The rhythms are very strong and lend themselves well to such strenuous activity. All of the artists featured on this disc are talented and have something worthwhile to say - this is music with meaning and a deep regard for life.

Review Original Posted at LinearReflections.com

While people associate Africa with drumming,this album leans to the acoustic side.Putumayo excels in exploring world acoustic music,and this album is a shining example.Each song is perfect,haunting.

Manecas Costa sings of a long-lost love;Seydu sings of the plight of children during wartime.Les Go is a powerful trio of women from the Ivory Coast.Oliver Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe,who is on many Putumayo albums,has a beautiful song about the sustaining power of spirituality.Augusto Cego from Cape Verde sings of the melancholy of the sea.Aura Msimang sings powerfully of a mother's loss.Adama Yalomba sings about helping the less fortunate accompanied by an unobtrusive electronic beat;I wish I could find more of his music.Habib Koite sings about the problems caused by polygamy when wives fight;it's not the glossy version of polygamy presented on HBO's "Big Love",but the atrocious nature of it in Mali.Koite doesn't sugarcoat it.

This is a powerful album.Despite its heavy themes of hunger,war&polygamy,its music is relaxing&uplifting.

Putumayo does it again! Beautiful musical voyage of Africa with some haunting melodies. This is an enchanting album ...something you need to add to your I-Pod ASAP! My favorites are Raki by Oliver Mtukudzi and Sinama Denw by Habib Koite.

This is an excellent collection of songs. I have heard it many times and I like the swings it has from slow, sad songs to fast paced ones. I discovered this cd in down-town Athens. I was going to work and every morning out of a cd shop Cesaria's voice was coming out. This was going on for almost three months. One morning, as if I were "hypnotized", I went in and I inquired about it. At first I was surprised with the looks of the bare foot diva (nothing like today's glistering pop-artists). This is a further proof though that the success of this artist is not based on the looks but on the spontaneous, unique way of singing. I like every single song in this CD and I think it is the ONE that someone has to bye from Cesaria's music.

I was always vaguely familiar with Cesaria Evora having grown up in Russia where she was, for some time, quite well known. A number of her songs were major hits; "Besame mucho" was even used in an Oscar-winning film "Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears." But it's only as an adult that I was able to fully appreciate this brilliant singer who brings an amazing amount of soul and honesty to her singing. Think Ella Fitzgerald and Judy Holiday, albeit Evora sings a different style of music. This collection, featuring some of her best known hits, is a must have. Just sit back and let it roll over you.

If you want to have one album from Cesaria Evora, it's got to be this.... Probably her best selection.... Highly recommended!

I picked up this album following a recent visit to Argentina, where Uruguayan Drexler is well-know and well-loved. After listening to a couple of his albums, I settled most comfortably with Llueve, where his simple and delicate melodies complement his poetic voice is a male Beth Orton-style.

Drexler's rhythm's remind me of Ben Harper, though edging slightly more towards folk than the funky-edge Harper displays.

The fourth track - Flores En El Mar - is a perfect example of Drexler's skill and mstery of the sbutle approaches to song-making.
If you want modern melodic guitar music, this is it.

I picked up this album following a recent visit to Argentina, where Uruguayan Drexler is well-know and well-loved. After listening to a couple of his albums, I settled most comfortably with Llueve, where his simple and delicate melodies complement his poetic voice is a male Beth Orton-style.

Drexler's rhythm's remind me of Ben Harper, though edging slightly more towards folk than the funky-edge Harper displays.

The fourth track - Flores En El Mar - is a perfect example of Drexler's skill and mstery of the sbutle approaches to song-making.
If you want modern melodic guitar music, this is it.

Drexler es un joven cantautor uruguayo, de lo mejor de la trova latinoamericana. Con una melodia y letras bellas, cantadas con una voz suave y acompa�ado por su guitarra despliega la linea de los grandes de la trova latinoamericana, en la linea de los milanes, silvio rodriguez, gieco etc.
No pienses de mas, de amor y casualidad, llueve, montevideo,etc, nos envuelven en un clima calido tan uruguayo y latino que lo hacen universal.
Un cd y un autor altamente recomendable para los que gustamos de esta rara estirpe de cantautores con esa rara sensibilidad tan especial

This is simply a phenominal disc. Traditional yet modern, Raiz provides an experience second to none. Although less well known than Cesaria Evora and bana, Simentera speaks, in many ways, to the modern Cape Verde better than they do. Buy it, sit back and enjoy.

� a primeira vez que escrevo uma mensagem deste tipo. Achei a m�sica extraordin�ria. Ergue e fortalece a alma.Espero que tamb�m gostem.

I spent two summers in Cape Verde and from the moment I stepped foot on the island of Santiago (the home of Praia, the capital), I fell in love with Cape Verdean music. While the styles of morna and funana are probably what Cape Verde's most well-known for, Cape Verdean music has a great range. That is evidenced in Raiz by Simentera. Even if you don't understand Cape Verdean Criolo (a mix of West African languages and Portuguese), you'll love the exquisite way in which the group's voices and instruments blend together. I actually heard this album for the first time playing on a PA system in a Cape Verdean grocery store. Considering the impression it made on me then, imagine how great it'll sound on your home stereo!

Stunning

Absolutely love Boy Ge Mendes and his talent/gift. His music is powerful, sensitive & smooth.

Jah bless you,
-Loca

I received this CD as a Christmas gift this year from a friend that I've turned him onto Boy Ge Mendes. I love this CD #5 Lagoa and #7 Pampario are my favorite songs. I love this CD just as much as the Noite de Morabeza CD. I love this man's style...What can I say, I'll say it again...I would love to see him in concert.

I am not normally keen on sweet gentle music. But this music is just so sweet, so gentle, and so healing; yet at the same time, so accomplished and rich. I can think of few people who would not enjoy the music of this little-known Cap Verde artist. The guitar moves along with gentle authority, and it is like lying in a river, being healed and carried to new and lovely lands. As a radio DJ, one of the best albums I have ever heard.

Despite the charged attention given to music from the isle of Cabo Verde in recent years, Cesaria Evora remains the better-known of the Cabo musicians - but watch out Cesaria, Maria de Barros is right beyond you and coming up strong.
�NHA MUNDO holds the same lazy, jazzy Afro-Latin elements which made Cesaria's works so compelling - with the added attraction of smooth vocals surpassing most of Maria de Barrlos' would-be competitors.

Maria de Barros is a rare modern performer whose live performances may be even better than their studio CDs. I was already a fan of Ms. de Barros and went to see her recently at a live club performance. It was really more like a dance or party. There were many Cape Verdians there, including the Ambassador to the U.S. Ms. de Barros gave a very soulful, lively, heartfelt performance and encouraged all there to dance, or at other times, to sing along to what must be well-known songs in Cape Verde. She performed all the songs on her CD, as well as other songs that were just as good. While her style is similar to her godmother, Cesaria Evora, her tempo is more upbeat, but her connection to Cape Verde and her feeling for her people seem as deep. The songs on her CD range from romantic ballads to Cape Veridan "blues" -- morna -- to more upbeat dance coladeiras -- and a beautiful arrangement of the Brasilian song from the movie Black Orpheus -- Manha de Carnaval. As an interesting note, Ms. de Barros picked out Manha de Carnaval before knowing that it was one of her parents' favorites when they were falling in love. I would encourage anyone who is a fan of Cesaria Evora, world music, fado, or anyone who just enjoys a soulful, talented singer who has an ear for excellent songs (some of the songs on her CD are by her grandfather) to buy her excellent CD.

I can only second the comments of the previous reviewer. Maria de Barros is a hypnotic singer, with varying styles, from the reggae of the first song on the CD, Riberconzinha, to a nice variety of songs that range from romantic ballads to haunting melodies about Cape Verde. The CD ends with a beautiful and very interesting arrangement of a classic Brasilian classic Manha de Carneval. Maria's voice is sultry and heartfelt, uplifting but not simple.

I stopped listening to this album a loooong time ago.It was taking up space,so I traded it in.

Teofilo Chantre,Cesaria Evora (who was once Cape Verde's superstar,the barefoot diva),Nana Matias,Bana&Maria Alice are the highlights of this album.You can tell the difference between their styles.Maria Alice is a particularly powerful singer.

The song "Galo Bedjo" is supposed to be a funny song about an old man lusting after a young woman,but it's neither particularly funny nor memorable.

"Cape Verde" is NOT one of Putumayo's best country-themed albums.I reccomend "Mali" instead,or "African Odyssey."On this album,it's hard to tell one song from the other.

Lovely, lilting music that's also sophisticated and fun. If this is what Cape Verde sounds like, I want to live there! Of the Putumayo CDs I own, one of my definite favourites.

I found this to be a most enjoyable CD. Its very rich in flavor that good international music has. Far from the 'hollowness' of some of the manufactured pop that we often get in the U.S.

You'll find a wide variety of beats, good range of voices, and themes of course change with the songs. There certainly are some more well known artists here such as Evora, Bana, and Fantcha (who is newer).

If you like this a bit or are even curious then by all means explore further and pick up more of Evora's music or even dip into the past a bit and get into some Fado. Having an extensive collection of international music in spanish, portuguese (understanding the language helps too), and others I'd say this one is among the better ones.