Gui Boratto - III (2011)

  8/10

With a few tweaks to his sound but not his direction, the minimal maestro continues to please

2011 was a good year for Kompakt Records, with their two biggest artists releasing well-received records. Following on from The Field’s Looping State of Mind comes Gui Boratto’s third full-length effort, with the Brazilian continuing the fine form that’s endeared him to those of a minimal persuasion.

While Boratto’s first two albums were built on the combination of a stripped-down sound with a general feeling of warmth, III sees him changing his formula slightly. From the very first track, “Destination Education”, it’s clear that he’s dabbling with the darkier, grittier end of techno. At times, this descends into a sort of bleakness, with the appropriately-named “Soledad” conveying a sense of loneliness and introversion.

Maybe the best moments on the LP are when this new sense of darkness is combined with the melodic attributes of his older work. Take “Galuchat”; dark and brooding at times, but gently laying down melodies once it’s broken down. One of the highlights is the delightful “Stems From Hell”, which is almost the inverse of the title track from Take My Breath Away; the dark atmosphere and keys building up the track to an almost euphoric state of gloom. “The Drill” is another track that shows off his new style, with a vivid build-up distorting itself into something more abrasive.

For all this treading into new ground, some of the best moments of III come when Boratto reverts to type. “Flying Practice” could easily fit into his second album, its colourful wall of sound leading into a searing flute. For the customary feel-good song featuring vocals from his wife, Luciana Vilanova, see “This Is Not The End”. But best of all is “The Third”, which encapsulates what Boratto does best; making electronic music which is minimal in style but packed with warmth and emotion.

It’s a case of evolution, rather than revolution, on Gui Boratto’s latest outing. He’s still focused on making something for home listening rather than the dancefloor; something with a charming depth rather than a head-turning immediacy. But by showing us a few new tricks he’s learnt, he keeps things interesting enough for III to be considered on a par with his past two albums.

This album was released by Kompakt on September 19 2011, available from the label's website or Amazon.