Music as catharsis: A Portuguese artist is driven into an existential crisis by the economic woes of his country. Assuasive cascades of electronica show him the way out.Something about Mira, un Lobo! strikes a poetic nerve in the mavens of our time: US blogger Kavit Sumud ("The Sights and Sounds", "Indie Shuffle") is inspired by: "complex electronica, cascading circadian rhythms serotonin streams and dopamine dancefloors". UK blog "Repeat Button" marvels at lush landscapes which are "unbelievably, inexplicably, insanely intoxicating", finding "synths so sublime I feel like maybe heaven is actually here on earth." Once in a while, a record comes along which has the capacity to inspire such elegies. Great art is often born of hard times and the celestial splendour thus described is very much a product of life on terra firma. The Portuguese Luis F. de Sousa knows the harsh realities of life only too well: "Struck by unemployment, crises and depression, we live in hiding, numb, under our sheets, hoping and trying our best to sleep and forget. Mira, un Lobo! allowed me to drift away whilst still being awake, facing adversity, oblivious of any consequences." Such cathartic intensity mirrors the influence of artists like Sigur Ros, M83, Julianna Barwick, Sufjan Stevens. As befits such a personal album, de Sousa wrote and recorded the songs at home, alone, unencumbered by schedules or deadlines. What began as a musical diary evolved almost subliminally into a fully fledged album. At this point, de Sousa called up several of his gifted friends "to smooth the edges", as he suggests. Ricardo Fialho co-produced the album, with former band mates from MAU helping out on guitars (Carlos Costa) and backing vocals (Eli Fernandes). One very special guest also made an appearance on the LP: "I used my son's voice from when he was a baby on one song