After the sinking mood on “Mi Vida Loca!” Atmosphere goes for quiet tones with »Whenever«. In the centre of their tenth studio album is the down-to-earth life. »I wipe the crust from the corner of my eye / I walk towards the kitchen and pour myself a coffee / I’ll prolly step on a Lego just to verify / That I’m still alive and y’all ain’t killed me already«, Slug reports from everyday family life in »Postal Lady«. The fact that the duo from Minneapolis now produces rap for parents does not bother the target group. They grew up together with rapper Slug and beat maker Ant. The sound changed only in nuances over the years. Dangerously humming synth basses like in »Cats Van Bags« from their 2003 work »Seven’s Travels« can also be found in »Romance«. Apart from that Ant has mainly put string instruments over the powerful drum loops. A sitar sample can be heard in »The Hands Of Time«. To tender plucking on the electric guitar Slug grates liquorice in »Love Each Other«. Accompanied by a meandering funk guitar, he shows his gratitude in »Lovely«: »Looking down at these shoes that I’m standing in / I might be happy, this might be happening«. Without doing anything fundamentally different, Atmosphere decelerates their music with »Whenever«. Reliably delivered and yet only a stopover on the way to the next full-length album.
Whenever
