Dwelling began as the solo project of Nuno Roberto in 1998. However, after a compilation appearance on “Algharb in Flames” (released the same year), the Dwelling line-up fluctuated and grew to include (briefly in some cases) a variety of classically trained musicians. Currently Dwelling consists of its founding member as well as vocalist/violinist Caterina Raposo, as well as bassist Nicholas Ratcliffe. Originally focused on the creation of music made up entirely of acoustic instrumentation, Dwelling is an understated ethereal-folk band with more than just slightly medieval influences. Their compositions include a variety of classical instrumentations that differ from others in the genre in their lack of reliance on synthesizers and electronics of any kind. Vocalist Caterina Raposo’ meek soprano is so similar in tenor and vibrato to the delicate violin in some songs, that it’s sometimes difficult to tell where one begins and the other leaves off. Inspired by the lilting and mournful sounds of Portugal’s Fado guitar driven folk music, Dwelling follows this tradition with reverence. Indeed many of their compositions echo traditional folk songs, calling to mind a band of gypsies dancing together in the mountainous countryside. Make no mistake, however, this is not the music of rebellion or antiestablishment. Rather, this is the quiet lamentation of an age/peoples forgotten. If I have one complaint about this release, it would be that there is very little to distinguish one track from the next on Humana. Each song is musically satisfying and shows off the considerable talent of the musicians, and yet there is something non-descript about each. Unlike Fado, to which Dwelling clearly plays homage, the passion in this music is muted and restrained.
posted by: macki (reply)
post date: 09.22.04 (6:35 pm)
it's just me or some of the tracks resemble portuguese fado? i do not know much about the genre, but i had that impression...perhaps it's because of the titles and lyrics in portuguese, or the accent =P
in fact, i just realized the names of the artists..nuno roberto, caterina raposo...perhaps i am not that wrong?
great comment, by the way
posted by: macki (reply)
post date: 09.22.04 (6:38 pm)
oops, sorry about what i said about the fado, my browser was cranking up and the image was a little messed up, so i did not see your comment about fado in the end =P
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