‘Terra Mãe’ is a soothing and stirring album of music by Portuguese singer LINA_ and Irish composer Jules Maxwell. It’s the first time that these two artists have collaborated, and the results are well worth savouring. The music melds Portuguese poetry and understated electronic soundscapes, conveying a mood of tranquillity that nonetheless pulses with power. The first track, “Arde Sem Se Ver (Follow the Dove)”, immediately envelops the listener in the album’s mood. LINA_’s voice is a rich and velvety thing that flows along at its own gentle pace. Her words are softly spoken, but they carry the weight of poetry. The second track, “Não Deixei de Ser Quem Sou (The Person I Always Was)”, has a more insistent beat, but it, too, pulses with quiet feeling.
The title track, “Terra Mãe (Mother Earth)”, is the emotional centre of the album. The music and Maxwell’s wordless sounds are earthy and organic, evoking the natural world in a warm, sensual fashion. LINA_’s voice is particularly lovely here, and it takes centre stage in the quiet majesty of this song. “Entre o Ser e o Estar (Wishful Thinking)” is a more ethereal track. The words have a more philosophical bent, and the music serves mostly as a backdrop for LINA_’s voice and the mood that it conjures. “Milagres (Miracles)” is a quietly invigorating song. It has a steady, pulsing beat but otherwise is deceptively soft and muted. “Requiem” is by far the darkest track on the album. There is more electronic hiss and blip here, and it all feels like a weight, a crushing grief made bearable by its gentleness.
“A Flor da Romã (Cherry Blossom)” is a light and airy song. Delicate, birdlike sounds flutter in and out, and the whole track has a quality of blooming that is both soothing and stirring. “Falcão na Corda Bamba (Hawk on a High Wire)” has a nervous energy that nonetheless never feels frantic. LINA_’s voice conveys a feeling of balance that is both serene and kinetic, as if this is something that is afloat yet still tethered. The final track on ‘Terra Mãe’, “When Are They Coming?” brings the album to a close on a note of hushed anxiety and anticipation. It’s a sparse and understated piece of music, but it packs an emotional punch. ‘Terra Mãe’ is not an album that shouts. Instead, it’s a work that overflows with significance, emotion, and a sense of love that is quietly but palpably present in every note. The mixture of ancient words and modern electronic music also gives it an ageless quality that is utterly contemporary.
Follow LINA_ + Jules Maxwell on Spotify, Sound Cloud, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Also Visit their Official Website
