Ulisses
One of the great fado singers working today, Cristina Branco returns withUlisses, a lush-sounding album that now more than ever separates her from fado convention. Rather than the typical guitar trio backing, Branco adds piano throughout to a guitar quartet that is, as always, led by Portuguese guitar player Custodio Castelo. Between Castelo's pyrotechnics and the piano adding a richer harmonic element, the elegant music sounds more appropriate for classical music recital halls than the fado clubs. Branco's voice smolders with nuance throughout, soaring but never overpowering the backing. A reference to the title, the material here sometimes comes from poems and tunes far beyond her homeland--Branco even offers English speakers a not-at-all-stiff version of Joni Mitchell's "A Case Of You." The electronic-oriented "Fundos" ends the album on an odd note but serves as an emphatic reminder that Cristina Branco is not content to sail exclusively in traditional Portuguese waters. ­--Tad Hendrickson