Have you ever dreamed of hearing a royal singing? And we're talking about a woman who can really sing with an impressive voice here. Then grab Maiuko's debut album Different Wars!
It has been released some time ago, but somehow escaped my notice. Maybe because it's released on the independent label RL-2 in the UK. But luckily I've learnt about Maiuko (pronunced my-u-co by the way) by chance through some links on the internet.
Her voice has been described as "a less raspy Macy Gray, or even the dulcet jazz tones of Erykah Badu". After listening continuously to Different Wars I think the comparison is alright to get a first impression but Maiuko is really a class of her own (although I must admit that on My Oh My Maiuko reminds me of Erykah singing Other Side Of The Game especially the way she phrases sometimes here).
Hailing from Mozambigue with roots in Swaziland (actually her grandmother was a part of the Swaziland monarchy hence the first question) Maiuko's music combines soul, african influences and with an overall more downtempo sad and bluesy feeling even some slight reminiscences of Portuguese fado music (with Hold My Hand there's an duet with Cape Verdian singer Sara Tavares who sings in a Cape Verdian Portuguese dialect).
Accompanied by various capable musicians Different Wars has a nice organic sound and Maiuko just oozes class. Take the opener Breakdown The Walls for example, a great soulful song that's also featured in an over 10 minutes reprise version, that's even more hypnotic and for me it's one of the stand-out songs. The reprise just builds and builds with a chant by Maiuko, a great violin by Bev Davison, a tingling piano and you really can get lost in the groove...imagine something like Oba Funke's Bush Workout in a slower pace to get an impression of this one.
Not only the music is great but also the sometimes thought provoking lyrics like on Different Wars ('Moments of silence/ Given to those who didn't win/ Moments of history/ Written prophecies fulfilled/ A time to embrace oceans and fields/ I hear horns/ Celebrating victories/ And silence from those who cried/ Without tears/ We're fighting different wars/Whatever we win we're still the losers'). Corresponding to the message Different Wars is a dark, moody song with a slight trip hop undertone.
Another highlight is Maiuko's tribute to her grandmother Grandma Lisa that includes some fine instrumentation with trumpet and vibes and still there's a more sad feeling to this song.
Of equally high standard is Mozambique, a song about Maiuko's past in this African country.
The only song I find a little irritating is Sweet Black Mama which reminds me musicwise a little of Kate Bush (and her The Dreaming album) with a wild violin and a little of Drum & Bass.
But with other good songs like I Make Believe or I Dream Maiuko's debut makes a real great album that everyone into real soul music should call his own.