De Todas las Flores

Lafourcade's first album of new, original material in seven years shows an artist in command of her many talents but also in search of her centre. Recorded entirely on analogue tape and unrehearsed, De Todas las Flores, has a crackly, raw quality that strikes the listener all the more in a slickly digitised sonic world – and especially when tuning in to an artist most recently known for piling up Latin Grammy's like breakfast tortillas and appearing in star-studded live extravaganzas.

A dozen songs dip in and out of Mexican music tradition. ‘Vine Solita’ has the melodrama of bolero. ‘María la Curandera’ is a march across the plaza and a magic spell. ‘Muerte’ nods wittily to Chavela Vargas. ‘Canta la Arena’ has a waft of mariachi brass. But Lafourcade is really a jazz artist, gifted with the tunesmithing skills of Carole King. On songs about a hummingbird, the wind, death, heartbreak and romantic longing, she exudes an infectious swing and explores her considerable vocal range. Accompanists include the New York jazz guitarist Marc Ribot, 20-year-old piano wunderkind Emiliano Dorantes, bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Fiona Apple, Soul Coughing) and French drummer Cyril Atef. Together, they turn the gritty compositions into polished jewels.