New York, USA - Portuguese vocalist Ana Moura, whose spellbinding version of her land's captivating fado style has made her a star in Europe, brings her persuasive magic to North American audiences with the release of her debut album Guarda-me a vida na mao (Keep my Life in your Hand) released on World Village/Harmonia Mundi USA.

The 25-year old singer has become a leading exponent of this poetic, deeply expressive idiom which personifies the Portuguese psyche as it explores such universal themes as lost love, separation, and longing. As Ana explains, "It's very special because it's all about emotions and feelings. It needs no translation."

Improvising is an under-appreciated part of the fado tradition. One technique, which Ana uses to great effect on the song "Lavava no rio lavava" (I Went to the River to Wash), is what the Portuguese term vocalizes-the expression of words and effects through use of vocal trills.

A key track from her album exquisitely sums up the magnetic pull fado has exerted on Ana. "Sou do fado, sou fadista" (I Belong to Fado, I Am a Fadista) by her mentor and primary collaborator, guitarist Jorge Femando, eloquently explains Ana's total surrender to the style: "I know my soul has surrendered, taken my voice in hand, twisted in my chest and shown it to the world. And I have closed my eyes in a wistful longing to sing, to sing. And a voice sings to me softly, and a voice enchants me softly, I belong to fado, I belong to fado, I am a fadista."

Today, even as the U.S. release of Guarda-me a vida na mao/Keep My Life in your Hand and a Carnegie Hall solo debut scheduled for March 12 trumpet her international success, Ana Moura still thinks of how and where it all began, and of the importance of keeping those vital ties alive. "Before," she muses, "I used to sing in the fado house every day. Today, because of my concert schedule and travel, it's impossible. But, when time permits, I like to return. Sometimes I feel that I must go there. I need that."

[Buy Guarda-Me a Vida Na Mao].