Aline de Lima

A fresh voice out of Maranhão, in Northeastern Brazil, via France, Aline de Lima succeeds in creating a listenable second album (following 2006’s Arrebol) by sticking to her true love: songs. Whether in her native, Afro-tinged Portuguese or impeccable French (classic bossa-embolada fusion "Renda Minha/Mulher Rendeira”) and even Swedish ("Som Om Ingenting Har Hänt” by Swedish bossa nova enthusiast Johan Christher Schütz), the natural fluidity of de Lima’s voice and her carefree spirit carry the disc. The production elements don’t hurt either. Arrebol’s NYC-based producer, Vinícius Cantuária (a respected jazz and bossa nova artist), and renowned Japanese producer and multi-instrumentalist Jun Miyake mix together minimal but exciting percussion, samba jazz guitar lines, touches of strings and other treats into a clear, simple sound, allowing de Lima’s lush voice to shine. While a couple of covers are among de Lima’s originals, it’s a smooth blend.