At 34 Kiko Loureiro has already released two solo albums (Universo Inverso and No Gravity), seven albums with band Angra, and one with Neutral Code. He first picked up the guitar at age 11 and has since never really put it down. Kiko joined Angra when he was just 19 and made instructional videos for budding/improving guitarists. Well respected brands such as ESP, D’Addario strings and Laney amps all wanted Kiko’s name on their products. Seymour Duncan pickups even made signature models on Kiko’s specifications. The latest release from Kiko Loureiro is Fullblast, which is his third full length solo album.
Well the first track ‘Headstrong’ to me sounds like it belongs on some sort of retro game like Street Fighter. Epic and heroic guitar riffs and progressive drumming, then things swiftly move on with some Santana style smoothness in the middle section, returning back to the 80s feel as if it never happened. Quite cleverly fitted in! ‘Desperado’ sounds quite unique with a Latin feel to it followed by angry action-like riffs. My favourite on the album has to be ‘Excuse me’ with its beautiful mellow guitar work that could chill the bones off anyone. A couple of others I enjoyed were ‘Corrosive Voices’ which is a mixed up experimental mess but done in the right way unlike some others I’ve heard who have tried and failed at this method. ‘Mundo Verde’ is a classy piece and the only way I could describe it is to just imagine you’re sitting in Nando’s or some other Latin restaurant; they always play this sort of music.
The album on a whole reminded me very much of Latin guitar legend Santana. Beautifully put together and such a talented guitarist who not only playing guitar on the CD but also keyboards, programming and additional percussion. Some of the tracks are definitely recommended to relax to and I feel Kiko is going to go far with such talent and like many other talented guitarists with solo albums I have heard recently, I just hope to hear them on film soundtracks that suit their style.
http://www.myspace.com/kikoloureiroband
