aaamusic | On 20, Jun 2011

US rap band Atmosphere do live up to their name, with their subtly forceful release ‘The Family Sign’. Their approach of using live instrumentation gives a refreshing sense of life and vitality that a simple backing track would be hard pressed to bring, but between the flashes of inspiration there are downward drags that hamper what could be an eye-opener.

First things first, Atmosphere set the scene in an enviably striking manner. Opener ‘My Key’ blends hazy, whirling guitar with punchy hip-hop beats to create a sounds that feels like a sinister fever-dream, flange and chorus dogging the brooding twanging melodies, while the rhythms feels like a clattering, organic heartbeat. The rapping itself has a masterly, assured flow, even if the lyrics themselves seem a bit meaningless.
Thankfully, ‘The Last To Say’ is an almost awe-inspiring track. A simple, soft backing of rhythmic, mournful guitar and drums provide a backdrop to the eloquent, powerful tale of domestic abuse that doesn’t shrink from either tender, heartfelt pleas, or pithy realism. The mesmeric ‘Became’ is another narrative showcase, with evocative, queasy piano and an off-kilter melodicism that reflect the uneasy, desparate protagonist. The vocals are occasionally too aggressive, but it’s a small problem given the confident and fluid delivery and ability to craft fascinating slices of the world that serve as engaging narratives, this one ending with a delicious twist. ‘Who I’ll Never Be’ is equally a chillingly tender semi-acoustic track, with flamenco-style guitar wrapped around sparse hip-hop rhythms played on skeletal hi-hat, and a tender, measured delivery on vocals that explores a full spectrum of both flow and feeling.
Annoyingly, the album does suffer pitfalls. ‘She’s Enough’ jars, with the musicianship still addictive with its scuzzy grind, but the rapping suddenly switching from a multidimensional world in its own right to the tired subject of demanding girlfriends, with an uncomfortably forced attempt at generic “edginess” that does such a promising outfit no favours. ‘Bad Bad Daddy’ redeems this though, with a scathing commentary on, dysfunctional family life, a subject Atmosphere tackle in a manner worthy of nothing but commendation, blending sensitivity, righteous anger and a fascinating musical approach. The creeping handclap rhythm and simple yet effective slinky bassy synth/skittering guitar duo almost feel a character in their own right in this bleak, twisted tale of the everyday. But ‘Millennium Dodo’ dips again, the glacial synths not quite lifting the patchy gang crime number.
The loping ‘Ain’t Nobody’ provides a tongue-in-cheek yet openly honest rant set to another odd sonic hybrid of blues and party reggae, and the way the rapping fits the tricky instrumental part not just satisfactorily but enjoyably, holding the playful scorn wonderfully, is testament to the band’s considerably better side. However, I’m agnostic towards the weary ‘Your Name Here’. On the one hand, it has a great reading-between the lines spark and crackle, but it does teeter on the infantile at times.
‘If You Can Save Me Now’ is another eye-opener, rhythmic piano/guitar/bass backdrops evoking bleakness and hope in a painfully human account of youth in the urban hell that’s all too often a lazy writing get-out clause, but here given a new vitality and reality that grasps the listener and holds on for dear life, although whether for the character or listener’s benefit, I’m not sure.

Perhaps I’m too harsh in judgement. ‘The Family Sign’ is, where it hits home, a truly special piece of work that pushes out of the box that too much music of any type finds itself in, to deliver a startling, almost breathtaking view on things in both sound and substance. Its main problem is that its shortcomings are only suffered greater when the do happen. But, overall, this is not merely a worthy undertaking, but a challenging and rewarding album that cries out to be heard.

Authors:Katie H-Halinski