On her fourth album, Leva-me aos fados (Take Me to a Fado House), youthful Portuguese fadista Ana Moura reaches new heights of vocal mastery while, as is typical of this gracefully mournful, all-acoustic tradition, plunging to the depths of romantic disillusionment and unfulfilled sexual longing. Interpreting songs by longtime collaborator Jorge Fernando,who produced and sat in on guitar, plus other noted composers, Moura s rich, exquisitely bittersweet alto is breathtaking in its womanly, aching vulnerability. She negotiates sinuous, Moorish-inflected wails and breathes poignancy into every melody, wringing every possible tear-drop from lyrics where even the occasional faint silver lining can cut to the bone. Whether facing down a triumphant rival ( Caso Arrumado A Settled Affair), dodging doom-inflected omens ( Como uma nuvem no céu Like A Cloud In The Sky), or weeping in solitude at day s end ( A Penumbra Dusk), Moura communicates world-weary, indomitable courage spiced with a risqué tang of dark passion that hurts so good.
D**L
The Bitter-sweetness of Fado
While Mariza remains the world popular star of fado, with her more contemporary stylings, another vocalist is attaining considerable attention. This fourth album of Ana Moura is her strongest studio session, with 17 excellent songs, most of which written by Jorge Fernando (guitarist and producer of albums of both divas, including this one). The package insert includes the lyrics and their translations. I happen to regard Moura's voice as among the best among the albums in my, albeit, small collection of fado. Her singing is not dramatic, but she conveys the sentiment of the lyrics. Like Greek rembetika, Portuguese fado stems from the harbor, outcasts, and lower classes, and its bluesy melancholia speaks of longing, loss, failed romance, and other sorrows. The tunes on this album, being recent, have a modern feeling and some arrangements of the ballads are popular in form, thankfully acoustic. Track 15, for instance, is very far from tradition, with group singing; indeed, the title of the song is "This is no ordinary fado"! The Portuguese guitar with its sweet, high metallic timbre serves as counter-weight to Moura's mezzo phrasings. Bass guitar and double bass ground the rhythms. This is an album to savor. In fado, sadness is bitter-sweet. A doomed love? Have some coffee, shrug, and walk into the night with a half-smile.
E**A
Incredible voice
Incredible voice, lyrics, and music...makes me long for the past and yearn to go back to my birth country...even though I personally believe that like Opera, Fado is beautiful and 'understandable' even if one does not understand the words...'One of a kind music' from 'one of a kind country'!
J**.
Her voice is so beautiful. This may not be considered traditional fado but ...
Her voice is so beautiful. This may not be considered traditional fado but if one does not listen to Ana Moura one will miss out on a wonderful and experience in music. My son was my inspiration to listening to her and I have since also enjoyed listening to her at a live performance.
A**A
Wonderful discovery
I discovered Fado music and Ana Moura through a friend and purchased two of her albums, this one and Aconteceu. They are both great: sultry, sad, dramatic, poetic, lyrical. Whether or not you understand portuguese, take a listen.
R**R
Four Stars
Nice introduction to Portuguese "blues"
7**7
Get it, you won't regret it...
Fantastic voice. beautiful arrangements and backing musicians, one of my favorite albums of the last year
L**O
this is a beautiful album.
With the exception of one cut, this is a beautiful album.
M**S
Beautiful Voice
Arrived on time and like new. Have other CD's by this artist Ana Moura, and she has a wonderful voice ]
O**N
Overly long and lacking in character
At nearly 60 minutes I think this is just too long for a fado CD. Over the 17 tracks there aren't enough that are distinctive, so it does tend to merge into the same sound.The first tracks in particular are really good, there are some really nice memorable melodies. But then, for me, it just gets a bit 'soft' and samey. Almost euro ballad territory!Ana's voice is really nice but slightly without character. It doesn't have the theatrics and drama of Mariza, but neither does it have the downright dismal slit your wrists wonderfulness of Aldina Duarte.The band is the typical fado one but never really shines, just provides backing. There's a bigger band on one track near the end of the CD which adds a bit of much needed interest.I always find that Ana disappoints me, with the exception of a great live CD recently - Coliseu - Ana Moura . Coliseu - Ana Moura
A**R
Fados at it's best
This album is really beautiful - she has such a wonderfully unique voice that really resonates with her Fados background. Even tho' its all in Portugese this just adds to the beaty of the songs for me - didn't even feel like checking out the lyrics until after about a dozen plays - must be good!!
S**A
Beautiful if you like traditional fado!
I went to listen to her in the Barbican (London) a few weeks ago for the first time and absolutely loved it. She doesn't sound as melancholic as Cristina Branco but resembles more the strong voice of Amalia. You have to like this genre otherwise no point in buying this. I love fado so this is a great gift!
O**.
Love this album
Love this album, first heard it playing in Porto; have a copy myself and gave it as a present to a couple of friends. Fado with a light contemporary touch.
M**R
Outstanding Musicality
I don't speak a word of Portugese so she could be singing a bus timetable to me. She sings with elegance, expression and total command. She is accompanied on this disc by outstanding musicians and the whole package is a joy. Totally recommended.
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