The Rough Guide to the Music of Cape Verde

Performer: Various Artists
Producer: Phil Stanton (Compilation)
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Includes liner notes by Duncan Baker. Arranger: Paulino Vieira. This CD collects works from the tiny islands off Senegal and, as is usually the case with Rough Guide albums, the spectrum is decently covered by a huge number of artists from the best known to the essentially obscure. The four basic forms of Cape Verdean music are covered here: the haunting vocals of morna, the percussive batuque, the accordion-based funana, and the fast-paced coladeira dances. The two greatest morna singers are present in Maria Alice (performing her signature, "Falso Testemunho") and C�saria �vora. Coladeiras are well represented by both Simentera and Nilsa Silva's ensemble. The music is generally relaxed, with even the most up-tempo works having a soft tone to them; a case in point is dance musician Tito Paris and "Dan�a Ma Mi Criola," a light but peppy number that still maintains a feeling of calm. The instrumental work is basically always worth hearing on this album, as numerous virtuosos and multi-instrumentalists are represented throughout. For an overall look at the major genres and styles of Cape Verdean music, this is a wonderful way to go, avoiding the usual pigeonholing of Cape Verde as a solely morna-based land of music. Pick it up as a great overview. ~ Adam Greenberg

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