Live Review: Untitled MOODs 'Untitled Planet' EP

Writing about concept pieces is an entire feat of its own. Getting into the mind of the artist to understand their drive and inspiration is one thing, but getting down to the nitty gritty of the actual piece itself is hard and often where it becomes misconstrued.

UNTITLED MØØDS is the project of one incredible bedroom producer. Lachlan Strang resides in Sydney where he makes his subtle brand of experimental future beats. It’s complex, well considered and one that certainly didn’t happen overnight.

His first major offering comes in the form of an EP. Untitled Planet has been a work in progress for quite some time, but the concept and formation of it is definitely evident in the final product.

I had a brief chat with him about the concept in order to further understand his intentions. His responses have been integrated into this work.

We open with ‘Mothership Landing’; a Blade Runner-esque soundscape of sweeping bass drones, crisp percussion and a haunting nature that emanates quite wholly from its pulse. A small group of scientists have just discovered a new planet, and they then set out to explore this enigma. As the percussion increases in density, the ship is entering the atmosphere of the planet. It then lands with the slow stutter of the synth as we trail onto ‘Locals’.

As the name suggests, ‘Locals’ is an auditory exploration of the native beings and their wacky habits. It’s fueled by a gorgeous synth that pulses quite heavily. An ensemble of crash cymbals dominate the middle portion, and it’s this saw-esque warp towards the end that captures the essence of his sound so well.

‘Planet Surfing’ feels more pop than the previous tracks, but the hip-hop beat pulls it immediately away from this and instead makes this feel a lot more chill. The locals then show the scientists their way of transport. Picture a huge Futurama landscape with plastic tubes connecting us all across the city, but you’re free to jump between these tubes. However with the reduction of percussion comes the rise of a storm and a Godzilla-like creature that fights and kills some of our protagonists. It’s this change in mood that acts as a catalyst for the story’s turn of events.

It is then that the rather relaxed synths of ‘Remote Location’ give us a glossy insight into the feelings of the now lost remaining scientists and locals.

The EP ends on a well-tailored sci-fi-esque note with 'F.T.L'. The percussion is subtle, going back to this industrial-like sound, yet the synths remain sweeping and the beat then becomes spirited, metallic and like a heart beat. It’s the ship preparing to go into hyperspace, and the few remaining scientists are trying to escape. They’re met by a large cruiser in orbit, one that puts the fate of our protagonists in jeopardy.

 Untitled Planet is more than just an EP. It’s a story that takes you on a journey through the medium of sound. It’s tough to convey, but UNTITLED MØØDs has the mind to do anything.

Words by Caitlin Medcalf

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