Murmurios

• Artist: Cristina Branco/Castelo/Fernando/DeFreitas
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 25, 2000
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: World

Review

Cristina Branco is at the modern forefront of the Portuguese fado genre, a kind of national variation on the blues, although it has more in common with Greek rembetika. The lyrics are poetry, the music soft. But it's all about the signing, putting across the image, and emtion of the song, which is why Branco stands out so much. Her voice has a tenderness that could move easily from the intimate to the sweeping over a single phrase, all the while making the listener she's singing only to him. The scaled-down accompaniment helps that feeling. By its very nature, the form is quite sensual, and Branco accentuates that with her slightly breathy singing. But there's also a clarity to her, almost a translucence, which illuminates the words. By choice she uses modern lyricists, poets really, with the melodies coming from guitarist Custodio Castelo. This is very much floating music, whether on the bereft "Abandono" or "Fado Das Sedes," and perfect for listening in the dark hours before dawn, or when you need an emotional catharsis, which the title track can certainly offer. Beautiful, sometimes almost erotic, this is music for the heart. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Fado Perdicao		Cristina Branco	(2:46)
Abandono		Cristina Branco	(3:15)
As Certezas Do Meu Mais Brilhante Amor	Sérgio Godinho	Cristina Branco	(3:04)
Saudade		Cristina Branco	(2:51)
Magoa	Fernando Pessoa	Cristina Branco	(3:56)
Fim		Cristina Branco	(2:57)
Canto Ainda Pro Alguen		Cristina Branco	(2:08)
Lirios		Cristina Branco	(2:32)
Ha Palavras Que Nos Beijam		Cristina Branco	(2:33)
Quisera Lavar O Pensamento		Cristina Branco	(2:20)
Murmurios		Cristina Branco	(2:31)
Fados das Sedes		Cristina Branco	(2:35)
Arc' Antiga [Instrumental]		Cristina Branco	(3:32)
Pombas Brancas	Jose Afonso	Cristina Branco	(2:12)

Credits

Fernando Nunes (Producer), Custódio Castelo (Producer), Fernanso Nunes (Engineer), Custódio Castelo (Musical Director), Jorge Fernando (Viola), Custódio Castelo (Arranger), Custódio Castelo (Guitar)