Kiko Loureiro: Sound Of Innocence mini review

Kiko Loureiro

Kiko Loureiro comes from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is most noted for his work with Brazilian band Angra.  Kiko began studying music and playing acoustic guitar at age 11. Inspired by various artists, mainly Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Randy Rhoads, moving to electric guitar at 13. At the age of 19 he had already been playing regularly and started the world renowned Brazilian power metal band Angra.

Kiko Loureiro has become quite successful, both playing in Angra and as a solo artist, known for his tremendous technical skill on the guitar and more latterly his compositional prowess, which he demonstrates to great affect on his solo records.

Solo
No Gravity (JVC/Victor Entertainment, 2005)
Universo Inverso (Victor Entertainment/Seoul, 2006)
Fullblast (JVC/Victor Entertainment, 2009)
Sounds Of Innocence(2012)

The latest album is entitled Sounds Of Innocence and is 11 tracks of high calibre rock fusion compositions that blend influences from across the globe, amalgamated into Kilo's own unique style. The albums also features the world class drumming of with Virgil Donati and Felipe Andreoli

1. Awakening Prelude (0:54)
2. Gray Stone Gateway (3:58)
3. Conflicted (6:02)
4. Reflective (3:45)
5. El Guajiro (5:20)
6. Ray Of Life (4:03)
7. The Hymn (4:37)
8. Mae D'Agua (4:51)
9. Twisted Horizon (4:31)
10. A Perfect Rhyme (3:21)
11. Conflicted (Playback Version) (6:30)

The opening classical prelude segues into the twisted Gray Stone Gateway, a full on rocker, that combines power metal riffs and a more Brazilian feel back beat. Guitars in the solo are super fluid, legato, coloured with careful use of the bar, fading to a repeated lick that no doubt too a few days to master!

Conflicted is a more frenetic affair, with multi layered guitars with a some interesting fast paced echo guitar. The mid section is slower paced, have a more cinematic quality. In deed a number of the pieces, like the Hymn or Mae D'Agua on the album that have this quality, so I wonder if he he a film score in him somewhere.

El Guajiro shows south American root, this is the sort of thing that guitar players from Europe would find so difficult to write, but living and breathing these rhythms in his native Brazil, just come naturally,  adding another dimension to his writing skills and setting apart from others.

Overall the production is great and brings out Kiko's playing without losing the song melody.
I have no hesitation of recommending this album to guitar fans and players. There is so much music to be studied and listened to in depth. Favourite track Twisted Horizon... I still don't know how people are able to write and then play music of this degree of complexity and ingenuity and still keep it highly listenable. There is no doubt in my mind that Kiko is one of the guitar greats, being skilled in so many styles and this album is just another stepping stone on that journey to greatness.

I stand in awe of Kiko Loureiro, I don't know how he does what he does... but just thank god he does.

Buy the new album using Paypal http://kikoloureiro.bigcartel.com/