The Phoenix Network:
 
 
 
About  |  Advertise
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Download  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features  |  New England Music News

Lura

M'Bem Di Fora | Times Square
By BANNING EYRE  |  April 17, 2007
3.5 3.5 Stars
070420_INSIDE_LURA
This young Cape Verdean diva explores animated genres from her remote, African archipelago home — funana, batuku, mazurka, and more — with polish and nuance on her second international CD. Lura’s vocal delivery tends to the strong and sassy, though she can stretch to æthereal, as on the tone poem “Choro,” and to melancholy, as on “No Bem Falá,” which is as close as these 13 tracks get to a morna, the sorrowful style most associated with the reigning queen of Cape Verdean song, Cesaria Évora. The mostly acoustic accompaniment here creates rich sound textures of percussion, plucked and bowed strings, and often tasty accordion work by Madagascar’s Regis Gizavo. The title track translates as “I Come from the Country,” and it plays to Lura’s natural strength with driving, electric funana. She co-authors three tracks but mostly adapts excellent compositions by her contemporaries, like “Ponciana,” a Cape Verdean Romeo-and-Juliet story set to a 6/8 rhythm with tasty flashes of flamenco guitar. “Romaria” evokes the atmosphere of a summer street party with shuffling, traditional snare drum, whistles, ambient voices, and a celebratory refrain that says it all about this fast-rising African pop star.
  Topics: CD Reviews , Cesaria Evora
  • Share:
  • RSS feed Rss
  • Email this article to a friend Email
  • Print this article Print
Comments

Today's Event Picks
ARTICLES BY BANNING EYRE
Share this entry with Delicious

 See all articles by: BANNING EYRE

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



Friday, January 09, 2009  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group