holo: astro
Francisco Espregueira
Floating between introspection and movement, Holo’s new record Astro feels like a quiet statement from an artist who’s been steadily refining his voice. Now based in Berlin but originally from Melbourne, Holo (aka Hugo Horwood) has built a following through releases on Lost Palms and support from tastemaker platforms like Houseum, where his early work found a global audience. On Last Year at Marienbad, Oath’s sublabel known for its dreamy, detail-rich catalog, he leans further into that identity, crafting tracks that linger. His sound sits in deep house, yet pulls gently from elsewhere: hints of dub, acid, fragments of pop sensibility, touches of 90s nostalgia.
Across Astro, that blend unfolds with patience. The title track drifts on light percussion and soft keys, with a distant sax adding warmth without taking over. “Spirits” lifts the tempo slightly, layering textures into something more expansive, while “Sympatika” and “Cycles” bring things inward again, focusing on space and subtle emotional shifts. It’s a record that rewards attention but never demands it. Immersive but never heavy. Available on vinyl.