Los Lobos Kiko CD

Los Lobos: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, banjo, violin, accordion, piano, percussion); Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitar); Louie Perez (vocals, drums, guitar, percussion); Conrad R. Lozano (guitarron, bass); Steve Berlin (flute, harmonica, soprano, tenor & baritone saxophones, piano, organ, melodica, synthesizer, percussion).
Additional personnel: Fermin Herrera (Veracruz harp); La Chilapena Brass Band (horns); Mitchell Froom (keyboards); Victor Bisetti (drums, percussion); Pete Thomas, Gary Mallaber (drums); Alex Acuna (percussion).
Los Lobos had earned a reputation as one of the most intelligent and creative roots rock acts in America with the albums By the Light of the Moon and The Neighborhood, but it was with 1992's Kiko that they really demonstrated the breadth of their sonic ambitions. Produced in collaboration with Mitchell Froom, Kiko exchanged the more straightforward approach of Los Lobos' previous sessions for a uniquely textured sound, with the group's guitars thrown into sharp relief against Froom's collection of vintage tape-loop keyboards, and the arrangements are often unusually spare, most powerfully in the ghostly spaciousness of "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" and "Wake Up Delores." Even the more full-bodied cuts, such as the rollicking "That Train Don't Stop Here" and the hard-rocking "Whiskey Trail," boast a different personality than in Los Lobos' previous work, with the guitars clean but cutting like a switchblade and the drums snapping hard, and the more contemplative selections drip with a mysterious, otherworldly ambience that's matched by the impressionistic imagery of David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez's superb songs. At its best, Kiko sounds like the musical equivalent of a Luis Buńuel dream sequence, balancing beauty and menace with intelligence and a skill that's little short of dazzling; it's a brilliant, singular achievement, and the most rewarding album in the group's catalog. ~ Mark Deming
On their early albums, Los Lobos effectively combined their Hispanic roots with rock; on this exotic, percussive and experimental album, which is as much a triumph for co-producer Mitchell Froom as it is for the band, they have created a new, distinctive sound.
The brimming mix is complemented by strong lyrics, evocative vocals and memorable melodies. But it is the often eerie, sometimes industrial, rhythm-based production that gives KIKO its unique twist.
Accordions, melodicas, organs and guitarrons all contribute to KIKO's mysterious, spellbinding sound. "Kiko And The Lavender Moon" may be the zenith of Los Lobos' career--a children's lyric presented with moody vocals and an incredibly melodic, percussive track.
Most of the songs are still roots-influenced. "Saint Behind The Glass" and "Rio De Tenampa" retain the band's Hispanic tradition; "That Train Don't Stop Here" is powered by the blues; "Reva's House" and "Whiskey Trail" rock right out of a country jukebox; and "Peace" could have come out of a Grateful Dead songbook. KIKO blends, bends and reimagines all these styles into one of the most original albums in American rock.Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.52) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."
Rolling Stone (6/25/92, p.41) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...a quirky yet emotionally gripping album...finds Los Lobos expanding their sound by finding new directions in familiar territory..."
Entertainment Weekly (6/12/92, p.57) - "...Much of KIKO is lovely and charming: it is imbued with a sense of dignity and pride in one's craft, and the band has never sounded better..." - Rating: B
Q (1/93, p.72) - Included in Q's list of the 50 Best Albums Of 1992.
Q (6/92, p.96) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...a wonderfully accessible album that retains their musical roots but embraces a huge range of contemporary sounds..."
Musician (7/92, p.95) - "...there's plenty to savor on KIKO, another charming, imperfect Los Lobos album....they've thrown plenty of wild cards into the deck, concocting a mix that can be strange and thrilling..."
Village Voice (3/2/93, p.5) - Ranked #6 in the Village Voice's list of the 40 Best Albums Of 1992.