by John Bush
Portuguese singer Amália Rodrigues possesses one of the most dynamic, emotionally honest voices in the world of music. The 1987 set Com Que Voz presents her in a near-perfect setting, with simply a pair of guitars to nimbly frame her tales of love lost and general tragedy (thankfully, the lyrics are printed in English as well). Her intonation and delivery may strike the new listener as just a bit strange, but her performances are excellent. The nimble guitar playing on &Maria Lisboa& makes it one of the highlights.