It is, believe it or not, three years since Clara Moto caused a stir with her debut album ‘Polyamour’. As the press release says, it offered ‘a fresh, intelligent and decidedly female take on the predominantly male genre of techno music’ – and it offered a new sound, too, richly atmospheric and with very full beats. ‘Blue Distance’ builds on the obvious promise of this and introduces more of a vocal emphasis, a tactic that works well with Moto’s ear for detail. In 6 she manages somehow to get a sound that is like mellow steel pans, while ‘I Saw Your Love’, ‘How We Live In Each Other’ and ‘My Double Edged Sword’ go for a more sombre but very intense sound. There are some close-up examinations of the soul here, a feeling that Moto has delved deeper emotionally for the sounds that she has on show – and that comes across in solo late night listening. It needs a few listens, but handsomely repays the effort with some thoughtful and emotive techno, which isn’t something you say often!
