We left Lura in 2006 with the flawless “M'bem di Fora”. Today, she is back with “Eclipse”, her finest album to date. Recorded in Brussels, Lisbon, Paris, Praia and Naples, this fourth opus confirms the reliable talent and natural elegance of a singer who still has plenty of surprises in store for us.
Penned by B. Leza, the historic Cape Verdean writer sung by Cesaria Evora, the song Eclipse is a treasure-house of emotion and sobriety. It sets the tone for the album: delicately wrought, acoustic and full of grace. The track is a perfect illustration of sodade - a vague feeling of melancholy and sadness, a nostalgic relationship with land, sea and family sung by poets, sailors and their wives since time out of mind. Lura’s sensual voice sometimes conveys the distant regrets of her exile, a general, gentle sodade that is never bitter.
Growing up in the Creole quarter of Lisbon, Lura was surrounded by beats from the leeward and windward islands, as well as Portuguese pop, jazz, African music and American soul. Today, all these influences are to be found on “Eclipse”. The album expresses love, joy and sometimes sadness. Its thirteen new tracks display incredible energy - for instance, Maria, a song written by Lura herself, whose bass and percussion showcase her voice magnificently.
Her bandleader and arranger, Toy Vieira, wrote the superb Um Dia with her in mind. On this ballad with its jazz notes and discreet backing vocals, a radiant Lura literally shines, as she does on the catchy Quebrod Nem Djosa (Poor as a Church Mouse), one of the album’s high points. This song by Vlu (Valdemiro Ferreira), one of Mindelo’s fashionable young writers, appeals to the honesty of Cape Verdeans facing economic adversity. Brass and backing vocals remind us that joy and good humour will always win out over life’s trials.
Madagascan accordionist Régis Gizavo accompanies Lura on the tracks Marinhêro, Na Nha Rubera and Sukundida (the last two are the catchiest on the album). The sugary 60s backing vocals of Queima Roupa, one of the three songs written by Mario Lucio, form a delightful conclusion to the album. As a bonus, Canta Um Tango is the work of the group Kantango with lyrics by Teofilo Chantre. Recorded in Naples, the track gently establishes its post-modern tango credentials.
On “Eclipse”, Lura takes a loving, soulful look at the full musical range of her country, the different Cape Verdean genres from coladera to funana. Full of verve and energy, but also with more ingenuous touches, her voice again makes all the difference. Yet as she modestly confides: “My career has been a continual surprise to me since I discovered my voice in adolescence until now. I take it one day at a time, but I’ll be a singer for the rest of my life. I’m sure of it. I don’t know why.”
Well, we do know why when we listen to “Eclipse”. This fourth album confirms the immense talent of Lura, jewel of the new Cape Verdean generation.
releasedate: 3rd of april 2009
catalogue: mcd015
album recorded at 'la chapelle srudio' waimes by manu casals /studio
andinos, lisbon, by jorge cervantes & elton sousa / studio do
soul, paris, by stéphane caisson & ravi maquindus. additional
percussions recorded in studio capital, praia, by zunga
canta um tango was recorded at ingredienti sonori, naples, by
antonio fresa, and arranged by giacomo pedicini
kantango appears courtesy of microcosmo dischi
tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 11 mixed by tim latham, home studio, new york
city
other tracks mixed by stéphane caisson, at studio do soul, paris
mastered by ryan smith at sterling sound, new york city
artwork: hartland villa
pothograpy: rita carmo
produced by josé da silva for lusafrica
all songs are published by africa nostra except:
orfelino, published by africa nostra / edizioni de bertholène
tabanka, sukundida, d.r./copyright control
canta um tango, published by africa nostra/microcosmo edizioni lura's management: josé da silva
