Celebrating the Portuguese art form,
Casa Do Fado comprises two 15-song discs replete with heartache, passion, plaintive singing, and acoustic guitar; in short, everything that good fado needs.
Amalia Rodrigues, (aka "The Voice of Portugal") is featured nine times on the album, with "As Penas," "Ojos Verde," and "A Tendinha," among others, while Salgado Armando Freire provides five songs, including "Fado do Ciume," "Fado Armandinho" (referring to his nickname), and "Olhos Bonitos." Popular artists like
Carlos Paredes and
Fernando Machado Soares are missing, as well as
Misia,
Carlos Do Carmo, and
Mariza (though this could be attributed to the compilers of
Casa Do Fado wishing to remain true to the more traditional form), but overall the album is a good collection of music, and a good showcase of fado. ~ Marisa Brown