press

MANECAS COSTA "Paraiso di Gumbé" released 12.5.03 in UK

"an exquisite debut album..surely one of the best African albums of the year" (THE GUARDIAN)

"confirms a major new talent ... a remarkably rounded effort" (Q)

"Paraiso de Gumbe is a delight." (THE OBSERVER)

"Paraiso de Gumbe is the equivalent of an afternoon on an equatorial beach." (THE TIMES)

"an album of great textural depth" (MUSIC WEEK)

"simply one of the great African singer-songwriters...uplifting, reassuring, hope-restoring" (STRAIGHT NO CHASER)

"thrilling" (FINANCIAL TIMES)

"traditional music for the 21st century" (WHATS ON)

"brilliant" (JAZZWISE)

"a disc that swings seductively to the rhythm of gumbe...'Paraiso de Gumbe' is a very special album indeed." (SONGLINES)

"a very special album indeed" (SONGLINES)

".there's a swaying sensuality to this music that goes straight to the marrow..an extremely good album" (DAILY TELEGRAPH)

"..bound to be one of the world music records of the year" (DAILY TELEGRAPH)

"a sparkling gem.....one of the brightest stars in the African firmament" (THE TIMES PLAY)

"a brilliant guitarist with a tenor voice that's smoother than palm wine" (TIME OUT)

"quite exceptional...Costa puts his country firmly on the musical map with a beautiful work of surprising maturity." (WANDERLUST)

"This is a sublime hothouse flower of West African music" (CITY LIFE, MANCHESTER)

"Paraiso di Gumbe is full-hearted, life-affirming, at once spiritual and sensual." (CITY LIFE, MANCHESTER)

"No album has ever portrayed the vast musical breadth of this tiny West African country so beautifully" (FROOTS)

"It's an album that's steeped in tradition, yet sounds refreshingly modern, that gently evokes the landscapes of Africa, while reminding of Latin America and Southern Europe at the same time." (FROOTS)

".this is a charmer, a relaxed acoustic stroll through West Africa's love affair with Latin music" (MOJO)

".Costa's acoustic guitar is gorgeously fluid throughout and his voice rich and warm..a star is born and the musical map redrawn" (HMV CHOICE)

"...In an area of music blessed with many excellent releases, this one still shines through" (BIRMINGHAM POST)