Âmago

Since 2013, André Coelho Rodrigues has been exploring and perfecting his peculiar take on Portuguese folk music after going through a subtle electronic treatment. Âmago, Vila Navio's fourth album, does not betray that fundamental truth about the project. The very first track, ‘Despertar’, is an apt reminder of the band's essence and works as a soothing introduction to their musical world: a gentle classic guitar plays as if it was about to welcome Portuguese legendary singer-songwriter José Afonso, while a couple of electronic sounds hover in the background, and then Rodrigues takes over, conveying his Brazilian vocal influence.

For a couple of records, Vila Navio have worked at mastering the skill of bringing José Afonso's melodic legacy (again in the delicate ‘Chuva’) together with jazz, sprinkles of Brazilian music and an electronic (often trip-hop) approach (you can’t miss it in ‘Fraqueza’). At their best, Vila Navio navigate the same melancholic waters as Chico Buarque and Cesaria Evora (as in the beautiful morna/samba ‘Balada da Saudade’).

Âmago proves to be a well-polished musical statement of Rodrigues’ vision, with trumpet, guitar and percussion riding along with traditional instruments such as cavaquinho, viola braguesa or Portuguese guitar. It's just missing a few more memorable tracks.