Cuerpo y Alma

by Jason BirchmeierAfter stumbling a bit with Torre de Marfil, Soraya took some time off before returning in mid-2000 with her third album, Cuerpo y Alma. There are some differences worth noting. For one, Soraya often collaborates with outside songwriters here, which is something she had done only on special occasions in years past. And two, she opens up her musical style, incorporating a wider range of rhythms and textures, most notably on the album-opening title track. Inspired perhaps a bit -- or much more than a bit -- by Shakira's "Ojos Asi" (1998), the song is driven by a sweeping Middle Eastern motif, instantly setting it apart from anything Soraya had sung to date. "En Donde Estas" is another highlight, one of her gentle ballads. Overall, Cuerpo y Alma is an adventurous album, even if it didn't return Soraya to the top of the charts.