Release of the Week: Muto - Lost featuring HVNCOQ
Having just released his breakout debut EP, titled Arcane, Muto is etching his brand of alternative electronica into the everchanging Australian sound. Trailblazers like The Presets, Flume and more recently Cosmo's Midnight have carved out their path, and now Muto takes it a step further.
A standout track from his latest project, Lost featuring the Melbourne-based HVNCOQ, is a mellow jam channeling the warmth of summer with the ease of spring despite its release in winter. On 'Lost', Muto hones his off-kilter production skills in a way that allows for the beat to drift between 'on' and 'off' - an accomplishment that goes almost unsung due to its methodic application. To the trained ear, this is a big risk, either being an uneasy blunder or a stroke of genius; on this occasion is it’s the latter. Not only does this style of production challenge the understanding of music, but it forces HVNCOQ to spit in a unique flow. The complexity of a rapper's flow is another make or break moment, with the hip hop community divided between the simplicity of lyrics allowing for a broader audience, or the artistry of compelling wordplay which establishes a greater narrative. HVNCOQ is no stranger to diversifying his style, as he had previously teamed up with Ribongia for 'My World'. Once again, a popular reference of those who have opted for unique production and abstract rap to achieve success is Mura Masa's hit 'Love$ick' featuring A$AP Rocky.
Combining a diversity of styles, ‘Lost’ is a standout in the rapidly changing nexus between hip-hop and electronica.
