Cape Verde

A 32-minute instrumental journey across Cape Verde in one continuous arc — all nine inhabited islands, from the morna of Mindelo to the morna cradle of Brava. No vocals; pure instrumental storytelling.

Each track is composed from the music of its place: the morna of Mindelo, Cesária Évora's harbour city and the cultural heart of the islands; the bright salt-island coladeira of Santa Maria on Sal; the mountain folk and terrace-farm songs of Ribeira Grande on Santo Antão; the older morna and literary tradition of São Nicolau; the volcanic hush of São Filipe beneath the Pico do Fogo; the defiant accordion-and-scraper funaná of Praia, with the batuku and tabanka of Santiago's roots; the quiet desert-island batuku of Maio; the sparse mornas de Boa Vista of Sal Rei; and, as an epilogue, the cradle of morna itself on Brava — the flower-island of the poet Eugénio Tavares.