Gui Boratto - Chromophobia

"Do androids dream of electric sheep?". The ability that machines may have to feel emotions is a possibility that has been present in our culture since a long time ago and Philip K. Dick's novel title from 1968 was just putting in words what had been in science fiction imaginary since its early beginnings. With "Chromophobia", Gui Boratto - a brazilian DJ and musician - may very well help us to find an answer, with a record that is also to be heard like a journey, from start to end. Using minimal techno's common tools (very few sparse and looped elements around a mechanical and repetitive beat with an austere atmosphere), Chromophobia's first half gradually involves its listenner in a dense and hypnotic set, with subtle textures that have rarely been this effective and humanized, proving once more that, in good hands, a beat can be more sensual and powerful than a whole set of instruments. Having our minds completelly immersed, the second half - starting with "Mala' Strana" - then comes, and the atmosphere keeps gradually changing to warmer environments, resulting in its listenner being literally blown away. While still using just the same old elements, with a few computerized and looped sounds, some of the most human and emotional music that has come out of minimal techno is then heard, reaching its peak with "Beautiful Life" (which is just the best dancefloor anthem I've heard in years). How can such strong emotions be suggested with just a few minimal computer-made sounds and, in the case of "Beautiful Life", a sampled voice? I guess androids really do dream of electric sheep...and much more, as "Chromophobia" seems to show. (8,5/10)