Kebrada

"Elida Almeida is a 24-year-old Cape Verdean singer, who made a strong impression with her 2015 debut album ... Here, Almeida again writes the majority of the songs and they're solid, if not often striking, while the production is thankfully stripped back. Almeida's voice remains a beautiful instrument and she sings in Portuguese Creole with such sensual pleasure, never overdoing the melodrama, that it's a pleasure to listen to her. The most notable change on Kebrada is the strong influence of Latin rhythms - songs like 'Bersu d'Oru' and 'Grogu Kaba' are designed for the dance floor and Almeida demonstrates a facility for singing such that matches her skills as a balladeer. That said, she is at her most distinctive when performing morna-style ballads and is particularly striking on the track 'Kontam' where she is backed by a small, acoustic ensemble. Kebrada is a strong album that suggests this young African singer-songwriter is one to watch".