If it wasn’t for the accent, you would think Jade Bird was another southwestern American half-country, half-Stevie Nicks songwriter. You know, the kind we love around here. It’s easy to know where the confusion might come from: in her second album, the English musician is joined by producer Dave Cobb (who else?) to bring us one of the most interesting Americana records of the year so far.
Hailing from Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Francisco da Concertina – or Chico da Tina – is the only trap star we know that plays concertina, would rather have a 18th century neoclassical painting on his neck instead of golden chains, buys his wares from local markets instead of “flea markets” or vintage shops, and whose notion of a good time is more likely to be a small village romaria instead of a club in the city. You won’t get it if you don’t know the language, but it’s your fault anyway. Plus: new tracks by Destroyer, Girl Ray, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Lalalar, Health&Beauty, Black Bombaim & João Pais Filipe, Clark, Maria Reis, Josienne Clarke, Basia Bulat, Frances Quinlan, Hoops, Tōth, Califone, SUSS, Twain, Futurebirds, Tuomo & Markus, Drive-By Truckers, Honey Harper, and Leonard Cohen.