Search - Mariza :: Transparente

A masterpiece!

San Franciscan | 11/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dare I say this is the best album in the history of the universe? Okay, that's the way I feel right NOW! Seriously, putting hyperbole aside, with this album Mariza and her collaborators seem to have perfected their art.



Each song is a little different-- from very simple, traditional guitar or accordion accompaniment to rich orchestration-- but almost every song will get stuck in your head. The orchestrations on some of the songs may not be pleasing to purists, but they add richness to the songs without crossing over into the realm of schlock.



This is clearly a team effort, with fantastic contributions by guitarist, songwriters, arranger, and all concerned... And of course there is Mariza herself, who sings this album with a supreme confidence. If you're a newcomer to her work, download and play a snippet of the first song and it will be enough to tell you whether you like this updated take on Portuguese blues.



Which album of Mariza's three is best to start with? Definitely this one. The first one is quite enjoyable, with many memorable songs, but a little rougher around the edges, with piano accompaniment or percussion accompaniment sometimes distracting from rather than complementing the vocals. The second album has not grabbed me yet (perhaps it is TOO pop/updated). But on this album, every song leaves a lasting impression (including the last two, which I don't particularly like, but they're placed conveniently at the end of the album...) This album has something for everybody.



A final note: the best world music can be enjoyed whether or not you understand the language, and that is certainly true of this album. However, if you know Spanish or Italian, do read through the lyrics, which are provided in Portuguese, English, and French, and you will find that they add to your enjoyment. True to the album title "Transparente," the lyrics tell a clear story or set a clear mood, rather than the less clear, more poetic lyrics of the previous album.



This one's a winner, a definite "desert island disc.""

Dark chocolaty-rich voice courts steafast sadness of fado

Frank Camm | Northern Virginia | 03/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gorgeous voice with simple settings of a quiet string orchestra and quintessential, spare Portuguese guitars, with a flute or accordion if needed. The dark, chocolaty richness of Mariza's voice naturally courts the quiet, steadfast, but deeply felt sadness of fado. This fado spirit colors everything on this CD, but given that, she displays a broad emotional palette, from utterly deep and dark to perky and romantically hopeful. Strong, compelling performance throughout, much stronger than I expected based on Fado Curvo. Stand-out: tr 13-Dues Lágrimas de Orvalho (slow, dark duet between Marizo and a Parisian street cello, full of pathos and hurt). [41:26]"

Just Another Great Form of Fado

Moneysaver4u | 09/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw a video of Mariza on RTPi television singing Cavaleiro Monge. It's a great song and it is Fado in its purist form.



Mariza is planning on doing a concert in Berkeley soon and I thought I'd search more about her online. I came across her Mariza Online website and downloaded the video clip "Meu Fado Meu" from her new CD Transparente. Wow, is all I can say. Absolutely wonderful--both the song and the style of the video. And yes, her style of Fado is smoothed down a bit on her Transparente CD because of the Brazilian influence, but I consider it just another beautiful and melodic form of Fado. I wish there were more songs on the CD that were as smooth as "Meu Fado Meu" even though some of the other songs are very nice as well. The songs could had been longer too..they are too short.



When it comes to Fado, I've been a big fan of Amalia and grew up listening to Fado spun by my Portuguese Aunt Mariazinha on her record player. I've also enjoyed Misia, who like Mariza, is a modern Fadista.



I'm very happy that this CD was released. Fado should be offered in many variations as Mariza has done on her new CD. (Obrigado Mariza!) I'm really looking forward to her concert. I only hope that she will sing songs from her new CD Transparente (I think she will).



Oh, to the guy who is spilling his animal rights rages on the internet wherever this CD is discussed: Dude! Put the hamburger down and go volunteer your time productively at your local animal shelter."