For over two decades, Oscar P has been a vital force in the underground dance music community. Based between New York and California, he has carved out a unique space for clinical production that never loses its soulful heartbeat. His label, Open Bar Music, has served as a primary platform for this vision since its inception, hosting a massive discography that spans from deep tech to traditional afro-house. With the arrival of “Broken Mirrors,” Oscar P delivers a definitive statement of his current artistic direction, marking his latest full-length project with ten meticulously crafted tracks.
The album is a expansive journey, featuring a total of ten original tracks and reworks that showcase his collaborative spirit. “Broken Mirrors” opens with the infectious energy of “Crazy” and “Love Song,” both featuring the emotive vocals of Morris Revy. These tracks set the tone for the entire project, balancing high-fidelity percussion with warm, enveloping synth pads. The rhythmic architecture across the album is particularly noteworthy; it avoids the repetitive staleness often found in modern house music by incorporating intricate layerings and unexpected percussion hits that keep the groove feeling alive and unpredictable.
One of the standout moments is the “Deeper Consciousness” track, which benefits from the Rosario Renovation ReMASS Dub. The track explores a more meditative side of house music, utilizing subtle bass textures and ethereal melodic fragments to create a state of focus. This approach echoes the legendary work of Masters At Work or even the early spirit of Paradise Garage, where the interplay between soul and rhythm was paramount. Oscar P’s ability to weave these classic influences into a contemporary framework is what makes “Broken Mirrors” feel both timeless and forward-thinking.
Throughout the project, we see a heavy emphasis on the afro-leaning side of his catalog, particularly on “Kalunga” and the Fela Kuti collaboration “Put My Mind For Some.” These tracks utilize dense polyrhythms and traditional instrumental textures to create a powerful physical response. The production is crisp and powerful, designed to cut through on a heavy club system while remaining detailed enough for careful headphone listening. This balance ensures the album’s longevity beyond the peak-time sets it was clearly intended to destroy.
In a market saturated with disposable singles, “Broken Mirrors” stands out as a cohesive body of work. It captures the essence of Oscar P’s “NY 2 Dtroit” aesthetic—a blend of east coast soul and midwest grit. Whether you are experiencing these tracks in a dark, humid basement club or as the backdrop to a late-night drive, the emotional resonance remains undeniable. This is a significant addition to the Open Bar Music legacy and a reminder of why Oscar P remains at the forefront of the global house music movement.
