Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado

An experimental fusion of Portuguese folk, introspective soul-searching and out-there electronica, this debut album by Ana Lua Caiano is an enthralling, unpredictable experience. Caiano, from Lisbon, was classically trained as a child and then moved onto jazz. It was only when the global pandemic forced her into isolation, however, that she began experimenting with technology, creating a unique sound that has drawn comparisons with Björk and Laurie Anderson. Besides her own vocals, she plays keyboards and a variety of unorthodox percussion instruments, such as a rattle made out of dolls. Her breakthrough came when in 2022 she performed at a WOMEX showcase in Lisbon, to great acclaim. The performance led to the release of two EPs.

Right from the start of this album, Caiano launches us into her world of surreal, multi-layered sounds. The short intro track bombards us with radio babble, fading away to whispered chants and echoing waves and wind. As for why she mixes traditional music with electronica, Caiano explains simply “… nowadays you can make traditional music with a computer or talk about themes that weren’t relevant or didn’t exist in the past. Traditional music is always evolving.” Caiano’s mood and message span a wide spectrum across the album; from the dark ‘Deixem o Morto Morrer’ (Let the Dead Die) to the whimsical title-track (translating as I Shall Stay in this Square) teasing stay-at-home locals who are content to remain in the town plaza. Caiano herself looks unlikely to stay still any time soon, and this challenging, fantastical album will find her new audiences far and wide.