Interesting albums from the folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting.
In the last decade of the previous century the fado experienced a revival. Not in homeland Portugal, where the music style remains unabatedly popular, but abroad. An important catalyst was the formation of five: Madredeus. The group was founded in 1987 by Pedro Ayres Magalhaes, Fransisco Ribeiro and the young singer Teresa Salgueiro, who possessed a beautiful (fado) voice. On the debut Os Dias Da Madre Deus you can find the first characteristics of their recognisable sound. The second album Existir forms their great breakthrough, thanks to their compelling and still driving O Pastor, which becomes a major hit in North Europe. The name of Madredeus is established with Existir as a birthplace for the later, bigger international successes. The next live album Lisboa is probably the best to be produced by the Portuguese innovators. Innovators, even though the melancholic, dreamy and sometimes – especially later in their career – corrupted new age inclined music sounds somewhat outdated now. Madredeus brought, contrary to what often was claimed, not fado, be it not the authentic one. With at its foundation the sphere, the subject matter and especially the melancholy of the fado, they added elements of pop and classical music, minimal Music and world music. This happened by and large with own, contemporary compositions of diverse members of the group. Especially founder and guitarist Magalhaes and cellist Ribeiro, after keyboardist Rodrigo Leao play a decisive role. After the latter had left, the music of Madredeus becomes less interesting. The surprise is gone, compositions and performances become recipes with small variations in ingredients. Leao develops a modest, but very interesting career of his own. Ribeiro studies in England before he, after some productions of his own, passes away in 2010 under his own name. Magalhaes looks for other musicians and continues on the same path they decided to walk on years ago. Also without his muse Salgueiro, who decides at the beginning of this century to take her own chances. With varying success for that matter. The interest for the fado, in part sparked by the success of Madredeus is fading away, but because of this group, many interesting musicians have gotten a stage. Existir gave the impetus. That’s why we pay attention to them in this Disc-Cover.
Madredeus – Lisboa EMI 7893422
- Mudar de Vida/Canto de embalar (Peredes, Magalhaes) 4.12
Madredeus – Existir – EMI 7946472
- Matinal [Vocal Version] (Francisco Ribeiro) 3.24
- O Pastor (Pedro Ayres Magalhães, Madredeus) 3.42
- O Navio (Pedro Ayres Magalhães) 3.34
- Tardes de Bolonha [Instrumental] (Rodrigo Leão) 3.04
- O Ladráo (Francisco Ribeiro, Pedro Ayres Magalhães, Teresa Salgueiro, Madredeus) 2.48
- Confissao (Pedro Ayres Magalhães) 2.46
- O Pomar das Laranjeiras (Pedro Ayres Magalhães) 4.19
- Cuidado (Pedro Ayres Magalhães, Madredeus) 4.10
- As Ilhas Dos Acores [Instrumental] (Rui Machado, Madredeus) 5.03
- O Menino (trad, Francisco Ribeiro) 3.55
- Solsticio (Madredeus) 4.11
- A Vontade de Mudar (Francisco Ribeiro, Pedro Ayres Magalhães, Rodrigo Leão) 2.17
Tereza Salgueiro – Obrigado – EMTL 345292
- Pregão (Moçárabe Mix) Featuring Madredeus & Jah Wobble (Francisco Manuel Pires Ribeiro) 10.47
