the moodists' debut single, "where the trees walk downhill", was issued in october 1981. it was followed by a second single, "gone dead", in june 1982, which was produced by victor van vugt. a six-track ep, "engine shudder", appeared in january 1983, co-produced by van vugt with tony cohen and chris thompson. it had been recorded at richmond recorders in melbourne in the previous october; session saxophonists nick danyi and david paliser each provided work on a track. in april of that year, mick turner on lead guitar (ex-sick things, fungus brains) joined. australian musicologist ian mcfarlane felt turner provided "his squalling guitar work to the band's unnerving, avant-garage rock noise."