Tempo
Six Degrees, 2021
8/10
The multi-talented artist Dom La Nena uses her singer, songwriter, cellist and producer skills here, where her varied song craft revolves around her Brazilian roots and current Paris home, as both weave their influence into the song craft.
La Nena leads the album with the soft strings of “Tempo”, where an orchestral angle welcomes much beauty and dreaminess where wordless singing accents the climate, and “Oiseau Sauvage” follows with gentle guitar and flowing piano amid expressive vocals that are layered sublimely.
The middle tracks include “Quien Podrá Saberio”, which brings in Julieta Venegas for a duet of cultured, rhythmic playfulness, while “Moreno” is nothing short of heavenly with its calm strings, light drumming and nearly lullaby-esque singing from La Nena. “Teu Coracao”, one of the album’s best, then welcomes a warm intimacy alongside bare instrumentation.
Near the end, “Vejo Passar” emits an upbeat and frisky spirit, and “Milonga” exits the listen vocally strong, while integrating pizzicato cello, cello-percussion and keys into the inimitable formula.
Her 3rd solo release, Dom La Nena’s multi-lingual, chamber friendly mixture of pop and world music ideas again proves that whether on her own or with her band Birds On A Wire, her talent seemingly knows no bounds and impresses on a universal level.
Travels well with: Emily Wells- Mama; Birds On A Wire- Ramages