Norberto Lobo: Pata Lenta

Portuguese guitar virtuoso Norberto Lobo crafts a gorgeous blend of international playing styles on his second solo album, Pata Lenta. Playing both six- and 12-string guitar, his combination of the avant-folk blues fingerpicking style of the Takoma Records and the forlorn romanticism of Spanish “Duende” music is nothing short of a hug for your ears, especially upon hearing such fluid compositions as “Zumbido Azedo” and “Do Alto Da Faia”. However, it’s Lobo’s radical rendition of Björk’s “Unravel”, transforming the lush, string-laden Homogenic gem into a lovely, John Fahey-esque porchside ballad that literally redefines the song’s beauty. Pata Lenta is a rich, soulful guitar album that should only serve as a sign of great things to come from this most talented scholar of his craft.