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CD Review
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Sunday Eagle-Tribune, CD Review >>
'M'Bem Di Fora'
Lura
The Cape Verde islands couldn't ask for a much better ambassador than Lura.
The native of Lisbon, Portugal, and daughter of native Cape Verdeans sings of being from the countryside on "M'Bem di Fora," a tribute to her parents' homeland. The release captures the heart of the is lands off the coast of western Africa and couches it with sleek sophistication befitting a European capital.
The themes of "M'Bem di Fora" are characteristically Third World: "Ponciana" is about a woman who chooses a poor local man over an immigrant from Holland she was supposed to marry, "As-Aqua" frets about a tardy rainy season; "Bida Mariadu" is about a hardscrabble life in general, and "No Bern Fala" name-checks famous Cape Verdeans.
Meanwhile, the musical language is more accessible to American ears than might be expected. There are a few foreign instruments on "M'Bem di Fora" beyond the reoccurring use of cavaquinho, a small guitar from Portugal. Otherwise, the music comes from basic rock and pop instruments with flavorful dashes of accordion, harmonica, violin, cello, sax and a heady, constant rush of percussion.
The uptempo tracks are particularly persuasive as Lura, a dancer as well, harnesses the power of the funana, a sensual dance style from Cape Verde. Closing cut "Fitico di Funana" - "The Enchantment of the Funana" - would make even Shakira envious. 04/22/07
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