Buika is back, bearing body and soul in the most poignant album of her career. From the risque cover art to the intimacy and rawness of her themes and vocal delivery, Buika has proven yet again that she’s completely surrendered herself to her art – no matter where it may take her. On Niña de Fuego (Girl of Fire) she plunges even deeper into her emotions and emerges in voice to reveal her inner anguish. Traditional coplas (female-centric Spanish torch songs) and fusions of flamenco, jazz, gypsy rumba, and Afro-Cuban rhythms become heart-wrenching songs of despair and love lost. For the first time Buika includes beautifully rendered rancheras in her repertoire, one of which is testament to her own lyrical prowess as a songwriter.On Niña de Fuego the singer reunites with producer Javier Limón, renowned for the sophisticated flamenco jazz cross-pollinations that he previously brought to highly praised albums by Bebo Valdés and Diego “El Cigala” (Lagrimas Negras) and Paco de Lucía (Cositas Buenas). On Niña de Fuego, Limón is also a musician, unleashing masterful flamenco guitar flourishes accompanied by an A-list lineup that includes Cuban musicians Iván “Melon” Lewis on piano, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández on drums, and Carlitos Sarduy on trumpet. The sound is anchored by Dany Noel on bass with Ramón Porrina and Piraña on percussion.
The eleven-track disc is a collection of classics, songs composed by Limón and David Trueba, and two -- the tender “Miénteme Bien” (Lie To Me Well) and the saucy “Mentirosa” (Liar) -- penned by Buika herself. Both of these touch on similar themes surrounding the false illusions of love. On “Volverás” (You Will Return) Buika is volatile, at first her voice is hazy, almost diaphanous and then it soars in desperate, untamed vocal flights for the return of her lover. Other album highlights include the elegantly soulful opener “La Falsa Moneda” (The Fake Coin) and “Culpa Mía” (My Fault), featuring a voice and palmas intro that climaxes into a swinging Afro-Cuban descarga.
The eleven-track disc is a collection of classics, songs composed by Limón and David Trueba, and two -- the tender “Miénteme Bien” (Lie To Me Well) and the saucy “Mentirosa” (Liar) -- penned by Buika herself. Both of these touch on similar themes surrounding the false illusions of love. On “Volverás” (You Will Return) Buika is volatile, at first her voice is hazy, almost diaphanous and then it soars in desperate, untamed vocal flights for the return of her lover. Other album highlights include the elegantly soulful opener “La Falsa Moneda” (The Fake Coin) and “Culpa Mía” (My Fault), featuring a voice and palmas intro that climaxes into a swinging Afro-Cuban descarga.
If you missed Buika's performance last year in Miami, don't miss the chance to see her breathtaking show this time around. Buika will be at the Gusman Theater on September 9th, the only scheduled concert in the U.S. so far this year.
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