Flor De Piel
It's hard to put a finger on the mercurial muse of Spanish chanteuse Martirio and guitarist/producer Raúl Rodríguez onFlor de Piel, her second domestic effort for Sunnyside. Much like they did on her exceptional debut,Mucho Corazon, the two (and their crew of backing musicians) make musical ports of call to Spanish and Portuguese cities throughout Europe and the America and bring a bouquet of influences onboard. Thus flamenco gracefully mixes with son, fado with bolero, café music of the city with traditional music of the provinces. Martirio navigates these shifting waters with grace, using her husky voice and Rodríguez's guitar work as the unifying force within the music. Highlights include the clever jazzy styling on "Alma Mía," the stripped-down and plaintive closer "Las Simples Cosas," and the fiery flamenco "Si Me Pudieras Querer." While the field of well-turned-out torch singers is a crowded one, here's a singer that deserves some time in the spotlight.--Tad Hendrickson