Haiku

Yusa's latest album is a celebration of the musical links between her native Cuba and Brazil, and lyrically it's a celebration of the myriad aspects of romantic love. Working in close collaboration with Brazilian producer Ale Siqueira, she has created a lovely if sometimes slightly befuddling album. Ironically, it might have been less befuddling if she had stuck to Spanish rather than writing so many of her lyrics in awkward English -- lines like "There's no answer in the room/Just walking heads" and "We both know/Illusions have their own horizon" are more confusing than evocative. But the rich, slightly grainy quality of her alto voice and the gorgeous arrangements more than compensate for the occasional clunky lyric -- note in particular the subtle and lovely string section on "Y Te Apareces," the gently chugging rhythm and restrainedly elegant horns on "Conga Pasajera," and the soft counterpoint between Julio Padron's trumpet and Yusa's voice on "Paris, Muy Bien." And even if her melodies are sometimes just a bit on the dry side, they grow on you quite nicely as you keep listening. Very impressive overall. ~ Rick Anderson

〈俳句〉という表題に偽りなしの傑作。まさに最小限の音で最大限の表現を提示した、キューバの女性シンガー・ソングライターによる惚れ惚れするような3作目である。共同プロデューサーにはMPB界の若き鬼才、アレ・シケイラを起用。簡素なエレクトロニクスも含め、すべての音がシンプルにミニマルに作られた、濃密に優雅に揺らぐスムース・ナチュラル・サウンドだ。ジューサ流〈引きの美学〉、ここに極まれり。美しい。
bounce (C)小松 健一郎