“He does’t have to be a prince to give me butterflies”
Though she has performed in many shows before and since, Madalena Alberto is
most likely to be recognised for playing Fantine in the hugely well-received 25th
anniversary production of Les Misérables. She has since been in London
in shows like Godspell and Jekyll and Hyde both at the Union, and now the
Portuguese-born Alberto is taking the opportunity to stretch her wings as a
singer-songwriter with the release of her debut EP Heart Condition.
Over the four tracks recorded in Lisbon with producer José
Canela, there’s just a snapshot of this artist here but an intriguing one at
that as her self-penned songs embrace a wide range of styles. The layered theatricality of the title track bursts with a surprising
complexity as it incorporates globe-trotting influences and a most alluring honeyed
vocal, but this is neatly contrasted with the relaxed simplicity of the
guitar-led Fairytale and the beguiling Rainbow and the Sky, the highlight of
the collection with its gorgeously crafted lyrical imagery and captivating
melody.
It is a little hard though to get a real sense of Alberto’s musical identity
over the limited opportunity offered here. The quirky rhythmic nature of
Gentleness is Power adds another string to the bow with its lyrics of pragmatic
optimism but feels a little disconnected on a musical level, where perhaps a
little more continuity in the material might have strengthened the cohesion of
the whole. But what we do get is an indication of the richness and diversity of
Madalena Alberto as a singer-songwriter to add to her already affirmed status
as a performer of note.
The EP Heart Condition can be downloaded from iTunes or signed copies ordered
from the website www.madalenaalberto.com
Labels: Madalena Alberto, Music