Reviews
Artist:Lina Album: Fado Camoes
Label: Galileo Music Comunication
Tracks: 12
Website: https://www.lina.pt/
There is something universal in the mood, emotion and feel of fado that transcends language. FADO CAMOES, the latest album by striking Portuguese vocalist and composer Lina, with its spacious sound and songs based on the poetry of Portugal’s Luiz Vaz de Camoes, speaks to the listener on a very visceral way. Carefully chosen musicians and Justin Adams' production both back and burnish Lina's powerful vocals, offering something exciting.
Lina’s slow and considered vocal and Pedro Viana’s resonant guitar on “Desamor” and “Se De Saudade Morrerei Ou Nao” are instantly classic Fado with John Baggot’s keyboards adding chamber jazz depth and emotion. Producer Justin Adams adds gritty desert electric guitar to Lina’s vocal on “Quando Vos Veria” with sublime shimmering fender rhodes from Baggot. The dark, nihilist lyrics, thoughtfully translated in the album booklet, suit the waves of mood music. Lina acknowledges that both Raul Refree, who produced her previous album and Justin Adams share a ‘curiosity about discovering links between the traditional and modern’, when building an album from Lina’s demos. To these ears Adams has a lighter touch, letting the voice shine through what sound like duets or band performances. Justin and Lina bring a range of colours to the songs by using different musicians that deepen not break the atmosphere.
On “Amor E Um Fogo Que Arde Sem Se Ver” Ianina Khmelik’s treated violin is both an experience on its own and a perfect foil to Lina’s shimmering vocal. The bitter sweet lyrics of “O Que Temo E O Que Desejo” and “Cancao” shimmer in the implied heat of handclaps, electronic percussion and reggae bass, while Rodrigo Cuevas and Lina provide the vocal heat in a very 21st century Fado. After the introspection of the first two tracks and the Bossa Noca sparkle of “O Que Temo E O Que Desejo”, “In Labarinto” and “Desencontro” have a North African Portishead feel with electronics, Justin’s frame drums, guitar and violin wrapping around Lina’s stirring words. A very 60s Pink Floyd organ shimmers behind Lina’s voice for “Senhora Minha”, the singer’s the star and as her voice builds on this track and the beautiful “Que Ninguem Me Veja Ver-Vos”, even understated accompaniment is forgotten. “Liba Vaz De Camoes” add a touch of Vangelis like noir electronics to John’s piano and Pedro’s guitar, around a stunning fully voiced vocal from Lina.
Found sounds, atmospherics and multi tracked voices like Siren rise and fall on “Pois Meus Olhos Nao Cansam De Chorar”, the final triumph and surprise on this album of unexpected turns and gems.
Marc Higgins
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