In her fifth solo album, Verônica Sabino brings an excellent selection of her repertory of acoustic, competent, and instrumental backing. Her warm voice would benefit from a more privileged sense of dynamics -- in favor of a paradigmatic feminine delivery, the varied genres are interpreted in a monotone feel. The album is dedicated to female composers, opening with Rita Lee's Luz del Fuego -- where the "feminine" aspect is a commercial sensuality much more derived from masculine expectation. More sincere are the melancholic O Tempo vai Esquecer; the genuine samba do morro Coração, por que Choras (D. Ivone Lara), where Sabino is miles apart from the properly energetic and swinging samba renditions; and the warm a cappella interpretation of Maysa's Rindo de Mim. The delicate Lua Branca, by the seminal female composer/pianist Chiquinha Gonzaga, is the highest point of the album -- Sabino's self-contained interpretation is closer to the best tradition of Brazilian modinha. Pitanga (Marlui Miranda/Capinan) provides another excellent moment, with a strong and authoritative vocal delivery; Vale a pena (Sueli Costa/P. C. Pinheiro) is a more challenging melody, where Sabino let her voice go a bit more. É Isso que eu Mereço (Jovelina Pérola Negra) is another samba do morro, again with a less soulful interpretation. Fim (Lucina/Zélia Duncan) closes the album with a precious romantic interpretation, backed by the impressionistic piano by Leandro Braga. A good MPB album that's a bit misguiding due to the superfluous sensual cover. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi

1		Luz del Fuego
2		O Tempo Vai Esquecer
3		Sem Suspiros
4		Tenho Sede
5		Coracao, Por Que Choras?
6		Rido de Mim
7		Lua Branca
8		Pitanga
9		Tardes
10		Vale a Pena
11		E Isso Que Eu Mereco?
12		Fim

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