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"Kiko Loureiro, freshly weaned from Megadeth, returns with a beautiful solo album that explores the far reaches of the human spirit."
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4/5
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When Kiko Loureiro announced his departure from Megadeth last year, rumors were rife about the mood in the band, his personal life and his future. Then, after repeatedly clarifying that the pace of touring was no longer compatible with his personal prerogatives and aspirations, the world began to turn again, Kiko spent some time at home and, to our delight, composed “Theory of Mind”, a metaphysical, almost esoteric album that goes to the very edge of the human mind and our unconscious.
It may seem far-fetched to talk about the spirit of an instrumental album when there are no words to back it up. But that's where the Brazilian guitarist comes into his own, because on his sixth album, he brilliantly manages to get across a message that's close to his heart. Kiko Loureiro's music is a compendium of raw energy, and his progressive experiences with Angra and heavy metal with Megadeth bring their own set of influences, making this album a unique and particularly original production.
The album unfolds with astonishing ease, the artist being so at ease with styles that he can put any genre into a metal sauce without ever shocking anyone. Admittedly, this is not the Brazilian's first try, but you'd have thought he'd stuck to his past styles. This would be to misunderstand him, as Kiko Loureiro, a great music lover, also takes on more contemporary styles, and the reminiscences of djent ('The Other Side of Fear') are obvious and prove that he can play anything.
'Borderliner', as the name suggests, explores the limits of the mind, constantly flirting with the boundaries of what is acceptable, until it goes beyond them and then pulls back with bitter regret. As the song progresses, we feel the mental whirlwind that sometimes obsesses us, as illustrated on the cover (no, it's not a raisin loaf) and the way it's experienced. The introduction sets the scene, so get ready as Kiko Loureiro takes you on an introspective journey. The inner journey on offer is unlike anything that's been done before, which is a feat in itself, given the plethora of instrumental music on offer.
Although the tracks follow on from each other wonderfully, you have to wait until the sixth track to discover the album's absolute nugget. It's 'Point Of No Return', and to miss it would be a serious mistake, so sublime is the track. Not only it is a technical feat of beauty, but the emotion it conceals is rare. Some, like Yngwie Malmsteen, have often been criticized, rightly or wrongly, for showing too much, but this is a completely different matter. Kiko can play very fast, particularly complex plans, but it's always to good effect and in the service of the story. The next track, 'Raveled', doesn't pale in comparison, despite the difficulty of moving on from this jewel. The oriental spirit and the Hispanic solo executed acoustically make this track an essential part of the whole.
'The Barefoot Queen' is probably the most progressive track, and could have closed the album with an epic structure worthy of the great names in the genre. But Kiko Loureiro has decided to add a final track, 'Finitude' (which is dispensable), which isn't bad in itself, far from it. The delay phrasing is interesting, but its predecessor was undoubtedly better suited to punctuate the fine achievement that is “Theory of Mind”. Too much is the enemy of good. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Borderliner 02. Out Of Nothing 03. Mind Rise 04. Talking Dreams 05. Blindfolded 06. Point Of No Return 07. Raveled 08. Lost In Seconds 09. The Other Side Of Fear 10. The Barefoot Queen 11. Finitude
LINEUP:
Kiko Loureiro: Guitares Maria Ilmoniemi: Claviers Bruno Valverde: Batterie / Invité Felipe Andreoli: Basse / Invité
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READERS
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STAFF:
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