Lura: Di Korpu Ku Alma (Escondida) - Cape Verde is a tiny little island nation, but thanks to Cesaria Evora, it's gained a disproportionate reputation among music connoisseurs, as the not-quite-African-but-not-quite-Portuguese sounds that emanate from there are the ultimate in polyglot musicality. Lura is a phenomenal singer and her voice skims some of the balladic shine from Evora's sound while depending more heavily on the nation's African influence for the musical elements of her album.

-Jason Ferguson