With her ethereal voice, percussive guitar, and undeniable songwriting talent, Sara Tavares breathes new life into the crioulo musical style with each album. On 2006's Balancê, she imbues the sultry "Poka Terra" with Angolan semba rhythms, and she instills the moody "Planeta Sukri" with Cape Verdean coladeira beats that contrast beautifully with her delicate vocal. All the while, she bends her traditional Afro-Portuguese sound into a subtly modern pop format that's hard to resist.