Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Loureiro, Kiko
Label: Fuel 2000
Released: 2006
Progressive metal fans know the name Kiko Loureiro. Quite the opposite, in fact: Kiko is a proven, established guitar name in the world-famous Brazilian progressive band Angra, where he proves his mastery of his instrument again and again. But not many people know Kiko’s first solo release, No Gravity, on which, with Mike Terrana on drums, he tore through a great progressive metal record, playing all the other instruments himself on top of the guitar.
On his second record, Kiko got tired of soloing (not on guitar, of course) and gathered a trio of proven Brazilian and South American musicians around him… and created a fantastic jazz fusion record. For me, the first listen was a bit of a shock, since I really didn’t expect mellow jazz with samba rhythms from Kiko, even though he’d hinted at this direction a few times in Angra.
Well, after the initial shock of not finding any hard metal firewater on the record, it crept under my skin. Universo Inverso is a great release that will be loved above all by those who appreciate a warm jazz sound. And jazz fusion is just the right sound to show off the wide range of Kiko’s skills. But don’t worry, the record is still full of shredding and speed, since Kiko still plays thousands of notes a minute in the style of Al Di Meola, while also proving he studied the basics of Wes Montgomery. Universo Inverso is a cohesive piece of work and the hard graft of the whole quartet, who recorded the album “live” in the studio. What you hear is what you get, with no extra producer polish.
The record opens with Feijao de Corda, which right from the start shows off a jazz-inspired guitar and piano, matched perfectly by drums and bass in the rhythms of Brazilian samba. Ojos Verdes is a composition that leans on the influences of eighties jazz/rock, but this rhythmically demanding piece is played with total confidence. Kiko doesn’t just follow set-in-stone jazz elements; he adds a good dose of his own style and creates a completely unique listening experience with this record. This time around, Kiko Loureiro is just a name on the cover, since he doesn’t push himself too far into the foreground on the tracks, leaving room for the excellent pianist Matos, who is backed up by technically superb drumming.
In Havana, pianist Yaniel pays tribute to his hometown and, with a brilliant piano solo, takes us straight into the hot dance nights of the Cuban capital. Kiko was also strongly influenced by the great Carlos Santana, and he pays tribute to him in Camino a Casa with a style that strongly recalls the Santana groove.
With Samba da Elisa, Kiko takes us into the carnival scene of Rio De Janeiro. The tone of his guitar is calm and soothing, you only have to close your eyes and you find yourself on the shores of this metropolis, whose pulse is relived through the samba bass lines of Carlinhos Noronha. With gorgeous rhythms, Kiko and Yaniel take the reins again in Realidade Paralela, and Yaniel once again takes your breath away with a great solo. Recuerdos, with Kiko on acoustic guitar, is a quiet close to an impressive record.
If you expect only and exclusively metal from Kiko, skip this record, since it might disappoint you. But for those of you who love jazz, samba, Latin rhythms, or even Atheist and Cynic, charge at Universe Inverso with full steam.
Lineup
Kiko Loureiro – guitar
Yaniel Matos – piano
Cuca Teixeira – drums
Carlinhos Noronha – bass guitar
Production
Kiko Loureiro
Track list
1. Feijao de Corda
2. Ojos Verdes
3. Havana
4. Anastacia
5. Monday Mourning
6. Arcos da Lapa
7. Samba da Elisa
8. Camino a Casa
9. Realidade Paralela
10. Recuerdos
