EnCantado

Twenty years ago, it would have been impossible to predict that there would be such a surge of young fado talent that it would be hard to keep track of every promising voice. But such a time has come, bringing fresh blood to a traditional genre that had been failing to develop its audience. The challenge now for new singers is to prove themselves worthy of this precious Portuguese tradition.

Carolina's eponymous debut album, released in 2014, didn't contain the seed of any revolution in fado. But it still came as a surprise: firmly based on traditional repertoire and beautifully sung, it left us wondering how far she could go from that exciting starting point. However, this sophomore effort turns her into another contender within that confusing mixture of fado and pop-leaning ballads (even if those are rooted in tradition). The problem with EnCantado is that the album shies away from presenting a case for Carolina's singularity, and this is especially highlighted by the tracks that do have real depth, such as the ‘Traição’, ‘Vou Querer Saber de Mim’ and ‘Tenho Saudades de Mim’, which poignantly show the way.