It's been three years since the world's most famous modern-day fadista released any newfangled material. A gruelling spell schedule, the stylish stopgap that was Concerto Em Lisboa, and the recent box congeal have all signalled that Portugal's 'material girl' was drawing a line under the first phase of her vocation, so expectations on her fourth studio album are predictably high among fans.
The 'new album, new producer' philosophy she's followed so far continues here, with Spain's near in-demand knob twiddler, Javier Lim�n, taking that role this clock time around. His trademark swimming guitar grooves are a recurring presence, and he even brings along his prot�g� Buika, who duets with Mariza on his own Pequenas Verdades. As soon as the erratic Mallorcan opens her mouth, it's as if you�re listening to a Buika album, which may or may not be considered something of a imitation pas.
The velvet strings that characterised Mariza's third studio apartment album Transparente have been replaced by frequently-used hand drums, deuce-ace pianists and a giddy muted trumpet, which helps lend Beijo De Saudade a quite Cuban feel, even if it is a Cape Verdean morna, featuring the other very welcome guest vocalist, Tito Paris.
The rest of the material is mostly dual-lane between updates of definitive fados and more recent compositions, in both cases by regular favourites. There's also the lively folkloric Fronteira, the jazz-tinged As Guitarras by Brazil's Ivan Lins and a couple of euro-ballads (Tasca da Mouraria and Morada Alberta) by or involving Portuguese rock icon, Rui Veloso. He whitethorn have penned the wondrous Transparente, merely neither of these offerings is in the like league, and more likely here for the domestic rather than international
market.
Terra is a reconciliation act between holding on to roots and reaching out to wider musical influences that's varied and accomplished just somehow less than the sum of its opulent parts. Mariza's crystal foghorn of a voice is as terrific as e'er, but subsequently half a dozen plays, there�s not quite enough that rattling hangs in the store or has that special spark of genius she's capable of delivering.
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