O Mistério

It hasn’t been easy since Teresa Salgueiro left Portugal’s Madredeus. While the band are still looking for a fitting substitute for their original ethereal diva, Salgueiro has spent her last few years trying to figure out who she is on her own terms. Finally, she seems to have hit on something, after three disappointing albums. O Mistério feels no longer like a scouting exercise, testing the ground as to where her music may flourish. It has the boldness to present itself firmly and confidently, making it clear that this is the album Salgueiro always wanted to make when she first went solo. It even forces us to discard the previous efforts and promptly erase them from our memory.

Of course, she can’t completely shake off the shadow of Madredeus from the music. But it’s welcome, and the presence of the accordion makes a sublime connection with the first records of the group. And perhaps that’s the secret behind O Mistério: once Teresa Salgueiro stopped running away from her past, she was able to choose freely where she longs to be. Funnily enough, it’s almost right where she started.