Missing Pet is the solo project of Toronto, Canada-based electro-pop songwriter Adam Platek. He’s just arrived back on my radar through his new EP, an exploration of choice called Pitch Darkness.
By Graeme Smith
Platek’s thesis on choice is that too much of it can be a bad thing. If we keep thinking about the alternative options – in romance and in life – then we’ll torment ourselves wondering if we’ve chosen the right one.
It’s a heavy concept, and the EP’s lyrics aren’t afraid to delve into the heaviness. “I left my heart on your bedroom floor, did you find it?” asks EP opener This Ain’t Love. It’s a line delivered through passionate vocals and a backdrop of dark electro that recalls 80s behemoth The Cure and turn-of-the-century cult legends The Faint.
Missing Pet’s sonic palette is not restricted to just that sound. Living on Fumes brings in elements of trap and hip hop. A staccato drum beat sets the tone while a slowly rapped verse builds the mood. Angry, defiant lyrics inject some fire: “Guillotine from the yard sale” is a standout image.
Lead single Plastik Love lightens things with airy synths, though the lyrics don’t lose any of their heaviness, railing against superficial romance and social media. It’s the track that not only defines the EP’s wider ethos but also stands out for its memorability and accessibility.
Side Piece has an energetic groove. A smouldering undercurrent gives it some depth. I Want More provides a maximalist conclusion. A lush, Anna Meredith-esque electronica fills the empty space that the lyrics yearn for.
Pitch Darkness is an astute record perfectly set in our modern age. It explores themes of connection, desire, loneliness, and the anxiety of choice, driven by a belief that happiness is always a click away, which many listeners will relate to. I certainly did.
“We live in a relentless commercial culture where everything can be replaced,” says Platek of the EP. “That logic finds its way into our relationships. We compare. We evaluate. We search for the perfect fit. And if it’s not just right, we move on. How did we learn to treat connection as something so disposable?”
Joining him on the record are Ryan Carter (harmony vocals) and Josh Korody (producer, recording engineer, mixing, mastering, and lead guitar on Side Piece).
If you want to keep up to date with all Missing Pet is doing, you can do so by following him on Instagram.
Pitch Darkness is out now, and you can listen to it below.