Gui Boratto – III

As a large label, Kompakt releases quite a few artist albums, and only a select few separate themselves from the pack. "III" is not one of them. Gui Boratto shows a lack of ambition and audacity by going for the standard Kompakt approach of melodic tech house. There is no unique flavor or innovation to be found on this one. While nothing is egregiously amiss about "III", formulaic music is only so tolerable. Be prepared to endure an hour of repetitive sounds, basslines, and muffled melodies that ultimately amount to little.

Gui Boratto returns for his third album, appropriately entitled III. And right off the bat, the filtered kick drum and slightly atonal melody of "Galuchat" lets you know that Boratto's back in form. But if you're craving a solid beat, "Stems from Hell" and "The Drill" deliver the goods, and if you want some rock strut, "Striker" takes that attitude to interesting places -- it almost sounds like early Cure. But, for me, the album doesn't really get going until "Flying Practice," which is the combination of beauty and groove that built up Boratto's name in the first place. There's a hint of melancholy, and as the track builds, it adds an echo of feedback to keep things from getting too pretty-pretty. "Soledad," too, has a sad piano line that drifts upon the rhythm and that eventually submerges and reappears amongst the electronics. Boratto's wife, Luciana Villanova, provides vocals for the last four tracks, and if you're waiting for a huge electro-pop hit like "Beautiful Life" or "No Turning Back," you might have to adjust your expectations a bit. "Destination: Education" is deep and slightly dark, and "Talking Truss" continues the vein. "The Third" starts to get more poppy, with some clarion tones to offset the disembodied vocal sounds, but the New Order-like guitars finally return on "This is Not the End." And while it may not be the same monster hit, its more subdued beauty can stand along those other tracks as definite crowd-pleasers.