Son Verdad

Xiomara Fortuna – attributed with founding the feminist movement in the Dominican Republic, an ‘out’ lesbian and a defender of human rights – makes excellent music. She has collaborated with Archie Shepp and Miriam Makeba, so it's no surprise that she is hailed in her country as ‘La Reina de la Fusión’ (The Queen of Fusion). However, on Son Verdad we mostly see a return, after 40 years of musical exploration, to a traditional and distinctly Dominican style. Familiar merengue and bachata rhythms make an appearance and the songs are structured and danceable: sometimes it's a challenge to stay still. Test yourself with ‘Palo Bonito (La Cruz)’.

The busy, drums-only accompaniment is beautifully offset with Fortuna's resonant vocals (and those of her male backing singers who dutifully respond to her melodic calls). Enhancing this, echo effects are tastefully applied to the vocal lines, for example in ‘A Levantar el Alma’ (To Lift the Soul).

The mix as a whole is extremely satisfying: shakers sit crisply apart from Fortuna and her male chorus, and they don't sound harsh on good speakers. Fortuna is one of those singers who can languidly string out an illusion of rubato and relaxation against an unmoving tempo – a rare gift. This album is a stripped-back demonstration of just how good this Dominican vocal powerhouse is, with no frills.