Every country has a version of “the blues.” In Portugal, it’s called “fado.” Here, you’ve got a vocalist Ramana Vieira that has a rich and earthy sound perfectly suited for the agonizing lilt. She’s accompanied by Benito Cortez-Eizbieta Polak/vi, Patrick Fahey/mand, Gratchen Hopkins/cel, Alberto Ramirez-John Clark/b, Tomas Salcedo-Beau Bledsoe/g, Ayinde Webb/dr, Steve Albini/acc and Dave Eagle/perc, and Viera composes a healthy amount of the passionate material. Her voice teams with Polak’s contemplative violin on a glowingly intimate “Ai Mouraria” and tradition meets with the modern on the buoyant “Bailinho Da Madeira” and “Fadista.” She veers and swoons through folksy rhythms on “Fado Da Vida” and “Cabo Verde” and even if you don’t know a single word of Portuguese, the meaning gets across on the alluring “Lidimo Amor” and “Nem As Paredes Confesso.” This lady is a keeper!
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