Queens of Fado: The Next Generation

Not that long ago, no youngster in their right mind would confess to liking fado in Portugal. In the years that followed the Portuguese Revolution in 1974, fado had a reputation for being a conservative music and was only admissible as a musical preference between parents and grandparents. But suddenly and unexpectedly, Portugal came to terms with its own cultural history and, after Camané and Mísia paved the way, fado began regaining an unforeseen popularity and attracting a bunch of new artists.

But as it became fashionable, it also naturally lost focus. And the crowd of singers that took over fado houses overnight often can't live up to the expectations. Queens of Fado gathers a significant number of fadistas who have made a name for themselves during the last decade. You don't have to be an expert to hear how Gisela João and Carminho stand out, and to know they will play a relevant role for many years to come, while Cuca Roseta and Raquel Tavares, on the other hand, are still struggling to find their way. It's an uneven album, and hardly an unforgettable musical experience, but you do get a reasonable snapshot of who's on the rise in female fado today.