7/10

Ever since he swapped live DJing for producing with his breakthrough debut release 'Gamma Wave' in 2018, French producer and multi-instrumentalist St Franck has found himself as one of the more inventive and revered names on the rise in recent years. Taking that broad and kinetic electronic texture he first emerged with and blending it with a progressive approach to both sound and genre, his tenure to date has been this wildly expressive one that always looks to build on what has come before. And after delivering a flurry of highly-praised singles throughout the last few months, he returns once again to unveil his hotly-tipped new album 'Hard Drive Oddities', a record that looks to elevate his adventurous pursuits of late.

Capturing a more atmospheric and cinematic aesthetic for his newest collection, 'Hard Drive Oddities' finds him a wonderfully fresh and explorative guise. Featuring standout offerings 'The Vampire In The Moonlight' and 'Hands On The Clock', both of which look to add a denser and more textured approach to his style here, his newest collection marks this wonderfully emotive moment in his shimmering catalogue to date. Creating some rich and vivid soundscapes throughout, that almost follows in the footsteps of fellow French icon Kavinsky, he is certainly looking to make a confident return with this boundary-pushing new gem.

It has definitely been one of his more prolific eras to date, but 'Hard Drive Oddities' still manages to cultivate something new and interesting for him to explore. With such a firm and focused approach to his direction here, St Franck remains one of the more passionate names doing the rounds right now.