Vitor Pereira Quintet: New World

New World is the second album from this quintet, led by the London-based Portuguese guitarist and composer Vitor Pereira. Like the band's 2012 debut, Doors, the music reflects the many influences which Pereira has learnt from but New World sees his work move a step further, his voice as a writer and instrumentalist developing a more distinctive sound.

The quintet has undergone a transformation since that debut album—the instrumentation remains unchanged but Pereira and altoist Chris Williams (from the somewhat edgier Led Bib) are joined by a new trio of players. Pereira's compositions show subtle changes rather than full-on metamorphosis: perhaps a little crisper, more economical, and lacking the outbursts of aggressive free-blowing that appeared from time to time on Doors.

New World is Pereira's response to the global socio-political situation. His sleeve notes suggest he's pessimistic and the album's political and social influences and tune titles might suggest an austere, humorless, approach but this is definitely not the case. His music is altogether more positive than its inspirations might suggest. "Bohm's Hologram," for example, is named for the theories of physicist David Bohm, but it's blessed with a beautiful melody, played sensitively by the saxophones. "Empire Of Lies" may be inspired by a certain superpower's double standards regarding human rights but it has a funky and readily danceable rhythm.

Elsewhere, "Age Of Austerity" opens with Dave Hamblett's crisp, military snare drum. It's a potentially confrontational beginning that soon mellows into the album's more typical style -fluid, melodic, tunes with the occasional hint of funk. It features Pereira's first extended solo, its flowing single note runs contrasting with Williams and George Crowley's punchier horn lines. "New World" is dynamic, full of forward motion and driven by Hamblett's muscular drumming. "Under The Pillow" seems to stem from more conventional musical influences—a lazy morning at rest, maybe post-party—it's slow and gentle, with Andrea Di Biase's mellow bass solo at its heart.