Jori Hulkkonen – Different

Jori Hulkkonen’s fourth full-length, Different, stays mostly true to its title. Though there’s still plenty of graceful tech-house (“You’re My Excuse for Being Me,” “Strangefaith,” “Man from Solaris”), it also starts off on the downtempo notes of “We Are Rising Sun.” “Four Seasons, Four Loves” is oddly romantic, and though the vocals on “All I See Are Shadows” and “Blue and White” aren’t the strongest, they’ll do in a pinch. But Hulkkonen is at his best with tech-house such as “Abstract Living” or the deep sweetness of “Latin Taiga” (though the latter goes on for longer than it should). Perhaps Jori should leave the vocals to better singers, because it mars an otherwise strong album.