Nu Monda

Singer/songwriter Tcheka might be from Cape Verde, but he defies comparison with other artists from the islands. There's a very African quality to his music, much of it based around the local rhythm of bataque, which originally developed to circumvent the ban of drums. But that doesn't define him. What he has to offer is completely individual, a sound that's his alone, passionate and at times quite frantic, as on "Djan Bedja," but also capable of a hypnotic tenderness, which he ably displays on "Talulu." Throughout, there's a strong rhythmic base to his music, much of which comes from his particular style of guitar playing (full marks too to lead guitarist Hernani Almeida, who provides some stunningly melodic solos and fills). The backing group is spare, but there's a richness to the arrangements to means they never sound empty; there's plenty of space, but it feels airy. Apart from being a highly accomplished writer (he's contributed songs to the debut by Lura), he's also one hell of a singer, with an expressive voice that can easily frame pain ("Agonia") or the longing of "Kre Ka Nha." Astonishingly good and unique, Tcheka is a name to watch.