If you don't know fado, Mafalda Arnauth's first US album is a good place to begin. All Music Guide says: "The crop of young fadistas currently singing have made Portugal's fado style a thing of international joy. On her third album (the first to be released in the U.S.), Mafalda Arnauth shows that among her contemporaries, she's the one with the most traditional heart. There's no denying that, from the first note, she has the purity and emotion that fado demands of a singer. Exquisite as the backing is -- and there's no doubting the virtuosity of the musicians -- it's Arnauth's voice that is the centerpiece here. Liquid and limpid, it's a gorgeous thing, perfectly suited to fado. Hers is a voice with depth; there's none of the shallowness of pop music here. With a very tasteful choice of songs, expressed in an almost perfect manner, you have an artist who's keeping the flame of traditional fado burning very bright indeed." The Rhapsody review for "Encantamento" reads: "Mafalda Arnauth is the young Portuguese singer who's almost single-handedly reviving fado, Portugal's sea-faring version of the blues. Her voice is a peerless instrument: supple, warm and shot through with longing. The backing is (thankfully) simple and traditional, allowing the material and the artist to fully shine." Mafalda Arnauth | 
