Ancoradouro

It is no minor achievement to have secured the blessing of Fausto Bordalo Dias. He is a key figure in Portuguese music and usually keeps to himself, working reclusively, recounting Portuguese historic episodes with a singular approach to traditional rhythms and a tasteful approach to the popular songbook. It's easy to keep track of the footsteps that Vila Navio have followed in taking Dias’ example, placing the tradition in the centre of their music, albeit with a jazzy and classical twist.

Vila Navio's music has originality in mind and their quest for a different sound has been a successful one. The allure in André Coelho Rodrigues’ voice, similar to that of António Zambujo, finds a welcoming solace in the Portuguese and Brazilian popular song forms he uses. But Vila Navio are actually more poignant whenever they venture into uncharted waters, whenever jazz rears its head less timidly and the music becomes a hazier take on tradition – as it does in ‘Douro’ (with a little help from Fausto Bordalo Dias) and ‘À Despedida’.