Marenostrum

MARENOSTRUM are a band from Tavira, a village in Algarve, South of Portugal. Their latest cd, “Almadrava” is a truly great expression of their work: it seems simple, as their themes deal mainly with feelings and enriching life experiences from those who live by the seaside – the sea being considered not only as a means of earning one’s livelihood, but mostly as a subject for meditation. As all of them lived all their lives by the sea and were raised by fishermen, all the stories that are told have an utterly genuineness; if you pay attention to the lyrics, you can imagine yourself fishing tuna according to the Portuguese ancient forms or even spending the day walking along those beautiful beaches kissed by the Atlantic Ocean.
“Almadrava”, MARENOSTRUM’s second album, was included on Folk Roots Magazine Play List Chart of March 06 issue. It had reviews on the UK Magazine Folk Roots and on the Swedish Magazine “Lira”. A track (“Fado da Ilha”) from this album was released on Aug-Sept 06 Folk Roots compilation.
It can be said that their music melts some features of Portuguese folk music (namely the one from Algarve, such as the “Corridinho” and the “Baile Mandado”) with several influences such as North African, Arabian, Klezmer, Celtic and Cape Verde’s music.
The band’s shows are cheerful, expansive and consistent; through rhythms and melodies easily remembered they bring the audience to their feet in dance frenzy. As a result, MARENOSTRUM rarely end a show without having to perform a series of encores, bringing, thus, to the public some of the ancient humour that used to distinguish Algarve’s popular festivities. Algarve’s typical terms, expressions and vocabulary used by the singer, greatly contribute to generating this state of mind – all this, makes MARENOSTRUM an unique band on Portuguese music scenario.
Currently, MARENOSTRUM are recording a new album which is expected in 2008.