Los Angeles’s Hex Cougar has been one of the most elusive names in the industry for years now, first gaining immense recognition for his remix of Gesaffelstein’s ‘Hexifornia‘ over 4 years ago, and then supporting some of the biggest names in the culture, all without ever releasing an EP. His remixes and singles during that time have racked up millions of plays on every streaming service possible, feeding into the ever-growing legend of this producer that almost seldom showed up on lineups. Now, he’s blessed the world with his first EP Under the Light of a Dying Moon, a masterfully crafted, emotional thoroughfare.
For some projects, the name of a song really has no meaning besides a joke or an allusion to a universal pop culture reference. This is absolutely not the case for the opening track of Under the Light of a Dying Moon, ‘Haunted’, as the goosebumps that will envelope your being are entirely palpable. Immediately one is drawn in with the soft sound of bells in the distance and a field recording of wind that slowly creeps louder, almost as if the piece is inching ever closer. Forlorn vocal notes quickly follow, accompanied by slow piano notes that firmly hold you entranced in the present. The pre-drop vocals of “why did you leave?” begins the overall tale of a love lost, and a human left to pick up the remaining pieces, missing vital pieces of their own existential jigsaw puzzle. The drop is overtly emotional and exceptionally well made, with the second half of the vocals “it’s haunted me” laid seamlessly over the top. This piece is an ode to the times when each of us have felt like we aren’t good enough due to the actions of someone that we held close, and the beginning of the uphill climb to perseverance and a renewal of faith.
Continuing the mightily dark and stylistic aesthetic already fiercely present in the project, ‘Hourglass’ is a sure sign that time is running out. A collaboration with the boundary-defying AWAY featuring chills-inducing vocals courtesy of the multi-talented Josh Pan, this could be the best vocal-heavy piece of the newly fresh year. This track spins a tale of a failed relationship, with a brooding, anguished air looming over. The title could be alluding to it only being a matter of time until things are done for good, the connection reaching a finality of severance.
‘Drowning in My Dreams’ comes next, definitely the lowest energy piece in this body of work. Featuring gorgeous vocals from Luma, it continues the story of a love lost, this time touching on the dreams that one has about that person that is no longer in their life. Even when you try your hardest to block out intrusive thoughts during the day, your subconscious when you’re asleep is not fully at your control, latching onto whatever means the most to you at the moment. Sorrow is at the forefront, with Luma’s vocals being especially powerful with a sense of mourning.
‘Sacrifice’ takes up the fourth spot in the EP, arguably my favorite piece on Under the Light of a Dying Moon. Featuring vocals from Ruby Red and a more upbeat ambiance, this feels like the first step on the path to healing. Things may not still be perfect, but they’re at least heading in the right direction. The drops are immaculately put together, with purring lows and scifi/videogame samples that add a touch of playfulness to the overall atmosphere. This track would be an absolute delight to get down to, and surely one that you’ll have on repeat.
‘Altar’ continues the trend of having exceptionally well-done vocals, this time courtesy of Sarah De Warren. She sings of being left at the altar, with the prevailing mood being very reflective and somber. The bass lines are exceedingly rich and full-bodied, pleasantly massaging your ear canals to peak pleasure. Forget a late-night glass of wine, push play on this marvelous piece and get the same soothing, relaxing effect.
‘Burn’ is the final track on the EP, with beautiful, rich vocals courtesy of Pauline Herr. ‘Burn’ could be a reference to how people burn the memories of a lost love, reminiscing on the times they had before turning them to the nothingness that the person will mean to them from that moment forward. A fitting goodbye to Under The Light Of A Dying Moon, you can let the sounds wash over you and fall away, drifting back to nothingness.
One of the most difficult challenges when making an EP or album is to make it a cohesive body of work that tells some kind of story. Hex Cougar absolutely knocked it out of the park for his debut, as Under The Light Of A Dying Moon feels like a love story come to life through vibration alone. The feelings you’ll experience and the goosebumps that will coat your body will be extremely real, almost as if it were you weaving the tale that’s playing out. Fans that have been waiting literal years for this to come out will not be disappointed in the slightest, and will be left eager to catch a set from him whenever he comes around. Check out Under The Light Of A Dying Moon for yourself below!
