Carlos Lamartine is one of Angola's most influential musicians. His career started in the late 1950s and took a decisively political turn in the early 1970s, as Angola struggled to gain its independence from Portugal. This music is deeply anchored in Angola's troubled history, yet it's beauty is timeless. Akwaaba will release Histórias da Casa Velha, a selection of Carlos Lamartine's music, in April 2009.