Lura

In the late 1990s, the melancholia of Cape Verdean morna arrived on the international scene, primarily through Cesaria Evora. This disc from Evora’s occasional protege, Lura, reveals more of the tiny nation’s musical depth.

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In some ways, Lura follows her predecessor’s European inclinations through a singing style that echoes Portuguese fado. But she also explores an improvised upbeat rhythm called batuku, which originated with Cape Verdean women. Along with her own compositions, this disc showcases the late unheralded songwriter Orlando Pantera.