Artist: Mariza
Label: EMI Records
Release: 2008
Rating: 2.4/5
Mariza is the name of a Portuguese artist born in Mozambique. In no time at all she became one of the most popular singers in Portugal, and you could say she carries on the folk-pop tradition (we’re talking Portuguese fado style) in the vein of Madredeus. Terra is already her fifth studio album, and once again she shows up purely as an interpreter, not as a songwriter.
Mariza’s rise is truly miraculous. Music with a dash of folk (especially when it’s accessible pop) is always popular (just as long as it’s not too much folk and too little pop), and Mariza is only one piece of that mosaic and doesn’t stand out in any way. She first made her name in Portugal, but it didn’t take long before she racked up plenty of glowing reviews abroad too, and she got to play in the USA, Australia, the UK, and so on.
Once you put the music on, it’s immediately clear why she’s so popular. It’s super accessible. Mariza has a very clean, throaty voice, which is typical for this kind of project. It’s a very mellow blend of pop and fado (Portuguese folk music) that’s often way too mellow. At times the music doesn’t go anywhere at all, the parts are practically all played at the same speed and volume. The lack of variety is glaring. Even Mariza’s voice sits at the same pitch the whole time, as if she’s forever yearning for something. This is sleepy music, siesta music, music that doesn’t bother you but doesn’t motivate you either. You could even call it boring, but that would be a bit rude. In short, there are plenty of other projects out there that know how to present their homeland’s folklore in livelier ways. Mariza sadly went for the safest route, which brought her fame, but in the long run this music will be forgotten fast, because there’s nothing in it that sets it apart from thousands of other acts. Sure, the whole thing is executed with real professionalism, the production is excellent, all the musicians are top-notch and Mariza herself is a good singer, but what good is that when the music is so bland.
This is the kind of album I’d buy if I were a pensioner heading off on a group holiday to some cheap hotel in Portugal. It’s music for people with stereotypical ideas about the country, because it’s full of the clichés we associate with all things Mediterranean. It’s packed with sensuality and love, yet the whole thing somehow sounds passionless. Some might disagree with that, but if I wanted to listen to typical Portuguese music, I’d want to hear a bit more temperament and punch. Instead, this music is so mellow and goes nowhere so thoroughly that it practically pushes you into early retirement, since it’ll put you to sleep right away, even if you spin it at eight in the evening. It works as background music, but for focused listening it doesn’t offer enough to satisfy serious listeners.
Lineup
Mariza – vocals
Concha Buika, Tito Paris – vocals
Chucho Valdes, Ivan Lins, Ivan Lewis – piano
Dominic Miller, Javier Limon, Diogo Clemente, Bernardo Couto – guitars
Diogo Clemente – viola
Carlos Sarduy – trumpet
Marino de Freitas, Dany Noel – double bass
Horacio Hernandez, Pirana – drums and percussion
Production
Javier Limon
Track list
1. Já Me Deixou
2. Minh’ Alma
3. Rosa Branca
4. Recurso
5. Beijo De Saudade
6. Vozes Do Mar
7. Fronteira
8. Alfama
9. Tasco Da Mouraria
10. Alma De Vento
11. Se Eu Mandasse Nas Palavras
12. As Guitarras
13. Pequenas Verdades
14. Morada Aberta
