Bleep

Portuguese artist Lewis Fautzi drops his debut LP on the long-standing Soma label. Named after the Porto club where Gautzi discovered techno, it's a vivid exploration of throbbing, late-night jams. Opening with static energy, things swiftly get heady with 'UVB-76', so-called after a shortwave radio station, so expect intermittent bleeps and drones. 'Sick' is the first of several bombastic techno workouts, while 'Range' is heavily nightmarish. Single 'Binary' is a real lasers moment, all echoing stabs and swirling rhythms. 'Other Planet' closes things with Drexciyan panache. There's plenty to chew on here, for the budding DJ or the home listener. Dark techno for dark rooms, in solitude or company.