Vivir Sin Miedo

Concha Buika, a Spanish singer of Equatorial Guinean descent, walks a narrow, obstacle-strewn path between styles, cultures and languages. Sometimes her singing manner – reminiscent of Sade's – seems best suited to the hotel lobby. On Vivir Sin Miedo she tests herself across a range of styles and endeavours to give her voice room to move. The title-track has a pared-down reggae guitar and Bob Marley-esque references to ‘fire’ and ‘Exodus’. ‘Sí Volveré’ has a more African vocal, with Buika's chants flowing smoothly over a choppy strum that echoes Ojos de Brujo's flamenco rumba. On ‘Waves’ she goes further, sharing the words with Potito, once hailed as the heir to legendary flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla.

Like many non-native speakers who adopt English to broaden their appeal, Buika's lyrics can seem over-literal, even clumsy, and you find yourself wishing she’d just scat. But even sonorous Spanish interjections can’t save ‘Carry Your Own Weight’, a cheesy collaboration with bland-voiced American singer Jason Mraz. Another mixed release then, showing up the dangers of cut-and-paste eclecticism and lounge jazz.