- Blistering '90s-tinged techno.
- Héctor Oaks' DJ sets are stacked with raw, classic techno, a sound that colours his similarly thumping productions. In 2018, he released one of that year's best bombs, "All This Was Fire." His first solo release of 2019 is just as fiery, with four jacking techno tracks well-suited to the energetic dance floors Oaks plays to these days. Heavy-duty as they are, though, they also have nuance. Elements are constantly tweaked and stripped away as the groove hammers, making them especially dynamic as club tools. As such, they should appeal to DJs who draw from techno's early years, where dead-eye grooves met adventurous sampling and sound design.
"Let It Guide You, Let It Burn You, Obey" echoes Regis's early productions, which often placed a repeating vocal snippet over an endlessly looping beat. But this is 2019, so Oaks switches things up midway through, letting the light in with soft tones that turn the previously mean tune sensitive. It's a clever move, which could make the track a a surprise afterhours highlight. The other three are more direct. "We Met Under The Strobe Light" is the other standout, pairing a rigid beat with bright midrange. The sound is psychedelic and emotional, the two traits that define many of the tunes Oaks spins. We Met Under The Strobe Light is tough enough for big rooms but classy enough for more nuanced sets, a sure sign of an excellent techno record.
TracklistA1 We Met Under The Strobe Light
A2 Cybertunnel
B1 Two-step Dance Ensured
B2 Let It Guide You, Let It Burn You, Obey