Riû

After a very promising debut album, produced by Argentinian musician Gustavo Santaolalla (leader of Bajofondo Tango Club), Cuca Roseta looked a bit at a loss on her next effort Raiz (2013), when she decided to pen her own songs. But it's clear now that she was then beginning to head towards Riû, openly flirting with pop music and making her fado light as a feather. In Riû, produced by Nelson Motta (Elis Regina, Marisa Monte), she adds a Brazilian touch to this personal private space she's building just for herself, but takes a step too far into that lightness she's pursuing on tracks such as ‘Verdes São os Campos’.

Roseta works much better when she keeps it simple (‘O Canto do Coração’ and ‘Ser e Cor’) or even more so when she welcomes the classical guitar of Pedro Jóia and the percussion of Vicky Marques on ‘Amor Ladrão’ and ‘Carnaval’. Unfortunately, Riû doesn’t stop here, perhaps too eager to put on record every inch of musical ground Cuca enjoys covering. This album could use some focus, because it often becomes so diaphanous there's little to grab onto.