Cape Verde

1	Chico Malandro 4:19
2	Cumba Ietu 5:05
3	Pays Sol 5:20
4	Nha Fê 4:10
5	Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha 4:01
6	Cabinda a Cunene 5:00
7	Solna Tchada 5:04
8	Injuria 3:31
9	Cinderela 4:10
10	Tchon Di Massa Pe 2:35
11	Nha Cumpadre Faustine 4:58
12	Calo Bedjo 3:06

Barnes & Noble

The ineffable melancholy of Cesaria Evora's morna introduced the world to sound of this African archipelago, a chain of starkly beautiful islands off the coast of Senegal. But there's more to Cape Verde than the morna. In their Portuguese and African ancestry, the islands are something of a prototype for the cultural and musical mixing that flourishes in Brazil. A way station in the far-flung Portuguese empire, Cape Verde developed a soulful amalgam of maritime music from English sea chanteys to Lisbon fado to Rio samba to Jamaican reggae. The arid islands produce little in the way of wealth, but as this lilting collection proves, the Cape Verdean people are indeed rich in music. Instrumental virtuosos like Bau (once Cesaria's musical director) rub shoulders with talented vocalists such as Teofilo Chantre. There are voices of experience, from the grande dame Cesaria and the veteran Cape Verdean hero Bana, and welcome contributions from younger artists working within the islands' rich traditions, notably Lisbon-based Maria Alice and Fantcha, who calls Brooklyn, New York, home. Wandering in search of a better life is a cultural hallmark of Cape Verde's people, and whether mourning a loved one far away or celebrating a traveler's return, the songs on this collection are rich in heart-tugging emotion. Mark Schwartz

All Music Guide

One of Putumayo founder Dan Storper's fascinations, the islands of Cape Verde, provide this album with a number of noteworthy performers and their work. As would be expected, the top luminaries of the islands' music are present, with a number each from Césaria Evora (the best-known Cape Verdean performer worldwide) and Bana (the most popular within the country). Others from around the world in the major Cape Verdean pocket communities also make their presence known, from Tito Paris to Jose Neves to the Matias sisters. Putumayo favorite Maria Alice makes an appearance, as does the culture-crossing Boy Ge Mendes with a nice work mixing in Cuban son and reggae with his coladeira. With some power, a trio of singers (as well as director Paulino Vieira and others) push their way through a funana from a 1990 Cape Verdean-specific fundraiser à la "We Are the World." Between the somber and soulful tones of the mornas, the upbeat coladeiras, and the quicker-paced funanas, the album can seem a bit incoherent as styles are switched on and off. There's a coherence afforded by both the language and the emotional content, which helps keep the album together, though it isn't a perfectly seamless compilation. Fans of fado will enjoy the mornas and fans of a lot of Caribbean sounds will enjoy the coladeiras, but complete newcomers to the sounds of the islands are likely to be polarized into excitement or boredom by the mix. It is, however, an excellent way to hear the Cape Verde sound beyond the great Evora. Adam Greenberg