Mornas ao Piano

The first few bars of Mornas ao Piano can trick you into thinking there's a Cuban record coming your way. But ever since piano started being incorporated into the Cape Verdean mornas that made Cesaria Evora famous worldwide, it brought a recognisable taste from across the Atlantic that beautifully matched the islands’ musical pulse. But that would amount to a meagre footnote if it weren’t for the simple greatness of Tété Alhinho. She has a past as the stunning voice that helped Simentera achieve legendary status in Cape Verde, but one doesn’t need to know that to fall hard for songs like ‘Mindel de Mãe Auta’ or ‘Lua Bonita’.
Alhinho last recorded more than ten years ago. Voz (in 2004), was long gone before she was convinced to make her comeback. And what a comeback it is: beautiful and tender, it takes advantage of how incredible she sounds when she sings effortlessly, as if she's whispering to herself and trying not to disturb anyone around her. With an immaculate repertoire made of mornas penned by Paulino Vieira, B Leza, Mário Lúcio alongside Alhinho's own compositions, Mornas ao Piano never loses sight of what really matters here: leaving room for Tété Alhinho's fabulous take on her country's music. This is a classic that we didn’t know we were missing.