GUSTAVO CERATI Bocanada (BMG)
Gustavo Cerati is an Argentine singer songwriter, formerly a member of Soda Stereo, and “Bocanada”, his second solo album, was released in 1999. Plunging into the album without the benefit of chronological or lyrical context, I can only really reference it against the bands and songs it reminds me of. Perhaps fortunately, Cerati’s magpie ears ensure there are plenty of those.
Given the album’s title, it’s almost beyond coincidence that I’m not infrequently reminded of the work of reclusive Scottish electronica duo Boards Of Canada. Then there are the occasional splodges of sampled Avalanches-style plunder pop, the coruscating Philip Glass keyboards that dominate “Alma” and the suggestions of an acoustic guitar-wielding Air. The title track is woozily reminiscent of second division Bristolian trip-hoppers Alpha, and “Verbo Carne” sounds like a slightly less plummy Divine Comedy on a Bond theme assignment. “Rio Babel” is caught in possession of a string motif very similar (but not enough to warrant a credit) to Electric Light Orchestra’s “Momma”, but “Paseo Immoral”’s glammy electrosleaze evades comparisons with Goldfrapp’s “Strict Machine” by preceding it by four years.
A not unenjoyable album, “Bocanada” is a rich, warm patchwork of ideas, but not all of them are his.