Hector from Celestial Vagabonds by The Upper Strata

The Upper Strata dives into the shadowy world of future noir with their latest single, Hector. Inspired by the classic hardboiled detectives of film noir, Hector blends moody synth textures, brooding basslines, and hypnotic beats, evoking the neon-lit alleyways and smokey speakeasies of a distant future.

A key piece of the Celestial Vagabonds universe, Hector follows a world-weary detective drawn into a labyrinth of crime, deception, and colliding powerful forces after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman. As he navigates a city where grifters, drifters, and forgotten places hold dangerous secrets, the song’s pulsing rhythms and cinematic soundscapes mirror his descent into the unknown.

«Hector knows this side of town too well. Old enemies lurk in the shadows, waiting. What has he stumbled into this time?»

Echoing influences from Fritz Lang, Blade Runner, and classic noir scores, Hector transports listeners to a world of intrigue and danger, fusing synth-pop, jazz-tinged grooves, and cyberpunk atmospheres into an immersive sonic experience.

Tracklist

4.	Hector	3:03

Lyrics

Careful if you find yourself
On that side of town
Past the warehouses and the docks
A poison rain coming down
Places even greed has forgotten
Abandoned locations crumbling putrid and rotten

Ever a leery look over a tense shoulder
It never grows easier just feebler and older

Vice vermin vagrant derelict
Dreary downtrodden and dour
Sad sorry song seeps, speakeasy sour
Last living loser languishing, lament
The dead dance drunk in this witching hour
A faded gangster feels his fleeting power

Ever a leery look over a tense shoulder
It never grows easier just feebler and older

Credits

from Celestial Vagabonds, track released May 16, 2025

License