Mãe Carinhosa

Over her 20-year career, the Cape Verdean legend recorded a vast amount of songs that never quite made it onto her many albums. Mãe Carinhosa compiles the best of these. Languid mornas sit alongside upbeat coladeiras and homages to the Brazilian music – all lovingly remastered by José da Silva, the producer who first ‘discovered’ Cesaria, singing barefoot in a bar in Mindelo.

Unlike so many posthumous previously-unreleased collections, the album is a long way from sounding like a ragged compilation of low-quality outtakes. Mae Carinhosa is a surprisingly unified album, holding together well as a complete listening experience. Highlights include the beautiful B Leza morna ballad ‘Dor di Sodade’ and the joyful Teofilo Chantre-composed title-track, both showcasing Cesaria’s rich, resonant and languid world-weary voice.