Dor de Mar

Tcheka’s last album, Lonji, was superb and earned five stars from this reviewer. Dor de Mar is even better and will surely establish Tcheka as the leading songwriter of the new Cape Verde generation, one which includes Mayra Andrade, Portuguese-born Lura and emerging new stars like Sara Alhinho. They have emerged not from Cesaria’s beloved São Vicente but from that island’s musical arch-rival, Santiago. And all have incorporated traditional Cape Verde musical forms (like morna, coladeira and funaná) into a fresher sound, which whilst remaining true to roots tradition is contemporary and innovative.

As the CD title would suggest, Dor de Mar (The Pain of the Sea) is awash with sadness. But it laments not how the sea destroys men, but how man is destroying the sea. There are other serious contemporary issues addressed too: ‘Faka na Prega’ (Knife in the Seam) talks of knife crime, ‘Storia Estrada’ of unemployment and sexual harassment. Tcheka’s pure, honey-tinged voice soars and soothes, backed by a superb band focused upon a percussive rhythm section which is always informed by Cape Verdean and mainland West African rhythms – whilst never being limited to them. Dor de Mar is a wonderful, reflective CD of shifting moods, sweet melodies and subtle rhythms, which deserves to bring Tcheka the widespread attention he has long deserved.