Maria Teresa | en

Portugal is a small country clinging to the edge of Europe with a musical influence far bigger than its size would suggest.
Fado is Portugal's 20th-century contribution to what is globally understood as torch songs drenched in a blues sensibility, a kind of Portuguese sung poetry not originally intended for export. Fado's stars have been largely women vocalists performing in Lisbon, making few concessions to listeners in New York or Madrid. So there's a great deal of sheer nerve in this Fado release by a gifted French vocalist born to Portuguese parents in that she tackles songs of the Portuguese diaspora (Brazil and Angola). While her voice lacks the passion of Mariza, today's Fado queen, there's a light buoyancy in her vocals, set against restrained acoustic guitar, suggesting an emergent talent with chutzpah and panache to spare. .