Ana Moura is universally acknowledged as one of the finest fado singers of the present generation. Her plaintive, smoky vocals has garnereda loyal European following, including members of The Rolling Stones. Whether starkl... more »y declaiming or swirling into filigreed crescendos of emotion, Ana's burnished alto personifies fado's darkly sensual credo of wisdom born of pain, grace, and futility, and secual passion perpetually on simmer, despite repeated and increasingly bitter betrayals.« less
Ana Moura is universally acknowledged as one of the finest fado singers of the present generation. Her plaintive, smoky vocals has garnereda loyal European following, including members of The Rolling Stones. Whether starkly declaiming or swirling into filigreed crescendos of emotion, Ana's burnished alto personifies fado's darkly sensual credo of wisdom born of pain, grace, and futility, and secual passion perpetually on simmer, despite repeated and increasingly bitter betrayals.
CD Reviews
Mellow and Gorgeous
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 01/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Mellow enough to be wonderful as a background for a romantic dinner or for a curling up with a good book, and gorgeous enough to listen to without any distractions, Ana Moura's sultry voice, and the selection of melodic songs in this exquisite collection make for an exceptional CD that should find a wide audience, way beyond the niche of "world music" and lovers of the Portuguese fado. Born in 1980, Ana was discovered by producer/guitarist Jorge Fernando, who had been guitarist for the legendary Queen of Fado, Amalia Rodrigues, and Ana has a semblance of Amalia's vocal quality, with her smoky sound and emotional expression. She has performed to SRO audiences from Carnegie Hall to Amsterdam's Concertgebow, and perhaps this young international superstar will inherit Amalia's mantle as the new Queen of Fado.
Among my favorite tracks is "Vaga, No Azul Amplo Solta," where Ana is joined by Spanish singer/songwriter Patxi Andion, and their blend of voices in this beautiful song touches the heart and lifts the soul, and another is the lovely, lilting "Ate Ao Fim Do Fim." The musicianship throughout the CD is marvelous, with Jorge Fernando's guitar work predominant, and a slight jazz feel to the last track with a saxophone added to the arrangement (Fernando also wrote many of the songs and did the arrangements). The booklet insert has lyrics in Portuguese and English, and many photos of the very attractive Ana. Total running time is 47.03"
Get your melancholy on...
H. Bala | Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA | 01/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Review? More like an unabashed plug, coming up.
I am simply blown away. Listening to Ana Moura's PARA ALEM DA SAUDADE (Beyond Mere Longing), it puts a body in a mood and transports a soul into a place redolent with unfulfilled yearnings, and pain with acceptance, and waiting for love (but maybe waiting in vain). Fado is a traditional musical style from Portugal and it offers a glimpse into the Portuguese soul and psyche. Fado is an old artform, with Ana Moura one of its latest and among its most gifted practitioners.
I read somewhere, fado is about love and loss and the sea. And that's true of PARA ALEM DA SAUDADE. Hearing these songs, I couldn't help but feel somber and wistful and reflective. Made me think of past things, and made me play that game of Oh-if-only... Do you have a quiet ache? Fado expresses so well the emotions of enduring hurt and bittersweetness and steadfast longing. This music made me sad, but the thing was, listening to Ana Moura, I reveled in the feeling. Ana's vocals are simple yet evocative, understated yet soulful. Her voice is smoky seductive without trying hard and sustains a quiet assuredness which at times elevates to a passionate crescendo. The spare musical accompaniment consists of a trio of guitars so masterfully played, and it's enough and it lends that ideal sense of intimacy. Two songs into this disc and I was swept away. Closed my eyes, longed for whiskey to kill (so as to really get in the moment). The songs made me sad, and it was okay.
I would've enjoyed this one irregardless, as Ana's heartfelt interpretation of fado steadily wove its spell, never mind that I could only capture a word here and there. Still I'm thankful there's a booklet included which translates the songs. The lyrics, in English, are beautiful and haunting and poetic. How much better must they be in the original language?
PARA ALEM DA SAUDADE is Ana Moura's third release, after Guarda-Me a Vida Na Mão and Aconteceu. I like every song here, truly. But, yes, I admit to several favorites: the folksy "Os Buzios" ("The Cowrie-Shells"), "E Viemos Nascidos Do Mar" ("And We Came Born from the Sea"), the lilting but wistful "O Fado Da Procura" ("Fado of Search"), "Mapa Do Coracao" ("Map of the Heart"), and the semi-bluesy "A Sos Com A Noite" ("Alone with the Night"). I cannot recommend PARA ALEM DA SAUDADE highly enough. Give this one a try. Let Ana Moura's brand of mournfulness and sensuality wash over you. It'll put you in a mood, and you just might get your melancholy on."
Long For The Unattainable
prisrob | New EnglandUSA | 01/31/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Ana Moura is a Portuguese Fado singer; "Fado" is a Portuguese traditional form of song that has a somewhat mournful quality to the songs that often are about the sea or problems faced by the poor people of Portugal. The songs apparently are frequently built around the word "saudade," a Portuguese word that has no English translation, but somewhat describes the sentiment of "longing for the unattainable." There are two centers of Fado tradition in Portugal; the Portuguese capitol of Lisbon and the university city of Coimbra. In Lisbon, you applaud the Fado singer by clapping your hands; in Coimbra, you cough loudly, as though clearing your throat! Regardless, the folk-like quality of this music is irresistible, and Ana Moura and her supporting musicians offer compelling presentations of songs that deal with love and loss, and of course, the sea." Tom Gibbs
A lovely, longing voice is shown by Portuguesa singer, Ana Moura. There is no need to translate the words, the music and the voice says it all. Ana Mauro started out in life singing Fado, but as she grew older pop and rock drew her in. She went one evening to a Fado house and was asked to sing, the owner of the house, a well known Fado signer, asked Ana to join her house and so began her career. A Fado house is also known as a Fado Club where only Fado is sung. This CD is the first release of her Fado music in the United States, titled 'Keep My Life In Your Hands'.
"My life changed when I began going to the Fado houses," Ana states today. "There's no microphone -- it's very intimate. New singers learn through a kind of apprenticeship, learning the intricacies of the style from the older, more established singers." 'Mapa Do Coracao' Map of the Heart' is one song that is so lovely and my favorite and may be seen on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aulsPto8yXQ.
A soulful, plaintive rich voice that is one of the highlights of Fado music and Ana Moura delivers the goods in this CD. A wonderful CD for easy listening.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 01-31-08
Le Conseguenze Dell'amore
"
Internation world music for the soul
Mark F. Braun | Norridge, IL | 01/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's been some buzz about the "fado" sound: Portuguese and African simple and sad voices to one or two guitars; here is that poetry. you don't need to know the language (I don't) but you hear it through your heart, and that is truly universal.
Ana Moura's voice is intimate and clear; the music drifted into me and made a day at the same desk in the same office a whole lot deeper. She is a treasure; a melancholy valentine in a bottle from another part of the world.
Warm and dreamy stuff; a necessary respite for the soul. I can't recommend this enough over anything produced in the states today. If you can't escape to a foreign retreat, here's an inspired little piece of it.
BTW: Even the CD's packaging is better than most: the gorgeous cardboard sleeve contains an slimmer CD case and a book of lyrics, translated."
Fado at it's best !
David J. Jordan Jr. | usa | 11/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ana Moura once again proves why she may become the greatest fadista of 21st century. Portugal's new crop of fadistas are all wonderful, from the African born, Mariza to Dulce Pontes. But Ana's fado is different. Musically it doesn't stray from fado's origins and her vocal presentation continues to become more focused and stronger. When I listened to this new album I once again felt transported to Lisbon's ancient Alfama quarter, where fado was born. Grab this album even if you don't understand Portuguese, you will be happy that you did!"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1