Kompakt brings us the debut album from Gui Boratto, a Brazilian producer who's worked with notables like Manu Chao and Steele Pulse. Imagine Villalobos, there really is a similarity, just as rhythmic and groove-riding as ever, but with a tendency to elevate rather than dig deep, with friendly, soft, trance-esque drum textures instead of his decadent, dry, stoner-friendly sounds.

Right when everyone is ready to pigeonhole the Kompakt sound, the label releases something that's quite distinctive from Brazilian producer Gui Boratto. We first heard him on the K2 series, and now he gives us a full album of what we'll call "house-techno" instead of the usual "techno-house" -- rhythmic house structures clad in soft and synthetic trance sounds. Not just another Kaito, Borrato has a way with a groove that's firmly based in house and avoids stepping into off-limits Trance-lvania (don't bite). To really pinpoint what's good about these tracks: Imagine Villalobos (not just a name drop here, there really is a similarity), just as rhythmic, groove-riding and syncopated as ever, but with a tendency to elevate rather than dig deep, with friendly, soft, trance-esque drum textures instead of his decadent, dry, flat stoner-friendly sounds. [SM] (March 22, 2006)