The last time we checked in with Slug and Ant was on 2016’s Fishing Blues, the latest chapter in a string of albums showcasing the pair’s evolution from tortured hedonists into settled-down dads making kicked-back rap records. It would have been nice to carry on thinking they were finally at well-earned peace after two decades of extensively documented trials and tribulations. But just because your corner of the globe is peaceful, that doesn’t mean that the rest of the world stops turning.
It’s a different place than it was two years ago, and the seventh Atmosphere album, Mi Vida Local, reflects the ways in which the world–and Atmosphere’s place in it–have changed. The idyllic domesticity of the past few records has morphed into anxiety over keeping loved ones safe during turbulent times. Instead of bragging about backstage misadventures it’s about grappling with mortality. The easygoing collaboration between Ant and Slug has started to feel more like the life-or-death intimacy of two men trapped together on a lifeboat.
At times it’s a heavy album (“I might be the last generation of grandparents,” goes a key line from “Virgo”), but it’s far from grim. There are jokes being cracked, joints getting smoked, a little trash talking and beefing here and there–after all, it’s still a rap record.
And Atmosphere’s never sounded better.
As the name implies, Mi Vida Local is intensely focused on the place it was created–the southside of Minneapolis–where Slug and Ant work tirelessly in their “beautiful basements”, refining their sound without interruption. (Although a handful of friends from the Minneapolis hip-hop community showed up to contribute.) A year of one-on-one collaboration resulting in an album that matches complex subject matter with equally deep beats–ones that show a clear lineage back to the psychedelic funk landmarks from an earlier era where America was going through a post-utopian hangover, and prove that there won’t ever be a time where boom-bap beats don’t sound perfectly of the moment.
Mi Vida Local might be the best album Atmosphere’s ever made. It’s definitely the one they needed to make right now, and one listeners need to hear just as urgently. If it’s sometimes an album about how the fight to find happiness never really ends–even after you get the house and the kids and the artistic freedom to make dad-rap records–it’s also about discovering that there’s happiness to be found just in fighting.
Video Credits:
Director / DP / Editor – Tomas Aksamit
Producer / AD – Kelan McQuinn
AC – Bryce Wandling
Art Director – Jen Sonibare
Gaffer – Jacob Velander
PA – Lucas Langley
LINKS:
https://rse.lnk.to/MiVidaLocal
https://rhymesayers.com/artists/atmosphere
https://www.facebook.com/Atmosphere
https://twitter.com/atmosphere
https://www.instagram.com/atmosphere
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Distant Voices – Lights of The City
Distant Voices have released their new video for the track titled ‘Lights of The City’. Valdis Stekelis, aka Distant Voices, gives that folk-rock sound a fresh makeover with a styled hook and a vibrant sense of musical self with a song that builds to a beautiful build-up that mentors the music and surrounds the listener.
As of February 17, ‘Lights of The City’ is available everywhere digitally. The ‘Long Road to Home’ album will be released on March 26 and can already be pre-ordered from the artist via Bandcamp.
ABOUT DISTANT VOICES
Straddling several genres at the same time, Distant Voices has announced the forthcoming album ‘Long Road To Home’. Ahead of this, they are previewing the high-velocity rock n’ roll lead single ‘Lights of The City’ complete with a fast-moving video, created by Alit Gonzalez.
Based in London, Distant Voices is the solo project of Valdis Stekelis, who wrote and began writing these tracks in 2019, finally finishing a year later due to the delayed realities of the UK lockdown. The band name itself was chosen during that period to reflect these unusual times, where live music (as we have previously experienced it) is a scarce occurrence and where we consume music with a less personal connection to the people making it.
Like the tracks on the album as a whole, ‘Lights of the City’ was inspired by Stekelis’ travels around Europe, based on events from that extensive journey. This lead track reflects the beginning of this trip with all its excitement and promise, but also a light sense of anxiety about what lies ahead.
This album was recorded at EAS Studios near London in collaboration with producer-engineer Ed Sokolowski, who has worked on albums by Melanie C, Fleur East, Hugel, David Archuleta, and Lukas Rieger. Sokolowki mixed and mastered this album, as well as co-producing it with Stekelis. Joe Montague also contributes drums on multiple tracks.
“This is the first body of work completed under the Distant Voices name, which I am very keen for people to hear and hope that they will enjoy it. The album was inspired by events that happened during my journey around Europe in 2019 and, in fact, they appear chronologically in the tracklisting,” says Valdis Stekelis.
“There is a range of different feeling tracks on the album – from lively to melancholy and also psychedelic. They are tied together – both in terms of the subject matter and also due to the underlying elements of a retro feel with electronic flavor. It was a lot of fun to make and is truly inspired by events that really affected me at the time”.
LINKS:
https://distantvoices1.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/distantvoicesuk
https://twitter.com/UkDistant
https://www.instagram.com/voicesdistant
https://soundcloud.com/distantvoicesuk
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZGAM_kCRBK52HQlgbCsggA -
The KillerHertz – Innocent Sinners
The Killerhertz has officially dropped their new EP called ‘Innocent Sinners’. Packed with that ‘purrfect’ smooth and thick set of guitar tones most guitarists spend their whole lives seeking, and combine that with valid and thought out songwriting and hook mentoring, and you have The Killerhertz.
Every song is laid out like a well-planned attack. And each band member is solidly in step with each other as the songs vary from moods and manners yet remain true to the original vision capped off with the well-fitting vocals of Thomas Trold.
ABOUT THE KILLERHERTZ
The KillerHertz is a Danish Hard rock band from a small town near Copenhagen called Kastrup. The band was formed in early 2011 by childhood friends Thomas Trold (vocals/guitar) and Kent KillerHertz (drums). Together with Jonas Roxx (lead guitar) and Jakob Nielsen (bass), their harmonious guitars, tight beats, and catchy choruses create a melodious style.
The lyrics are based on personal experiences and express the multifaceted aspects of life, addressing issues such as crisis and broken relationships, which most people can relate to. Their main inspiration stem from the 80s’ and 90s’ heavy metal scene, such as Metallica and Megadeth, combined with a more modern rock approach and a touch from the Danish rock-scene.
In 2014, the band released its first full-length studio album “A Killer Anthem”. The album was recorded at Earplug Studio, and later mixed and mastered by legendary Metallica producer Flemming Rasmussen. This created the sound The KillerHertz was searching for. A sound that brings the audience back to the glorious days of the 90s.
The band now had a more powerful product with a broad variety of tracks differing both thematically and musically. Fans and critics received the album with great response and many fine reviews, and it certainly deserves a spot at the rock-scene of Copenhagen.
In 2017, The KillerHertz is due to release their long-awaited second album “A mirror’s portrait”, which will include 10 solid songs, again recorded in Earplug Studio and once again mixed and mastered by Flemming Rasmussen. The album is set to be released this Autumn, followed by plenty of concerts.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thekillerhertzband
https://www.facebook.com/NoiseGateRecordsDK -
Ways – Death Row
French alternative metal quintet Ways have premiered their brand new single and music video for “Death Row”. The single comes from the group’s upcoming record titled, AFTERMATH set to release March 15th.
“We are very excited for everyone to finally see the music video for our first single of our new EP, “Aftermath”, says guitarist, Nicolas Reignier.
With the new album, the band brings their beliefs to the table in the new album which speaks of the many problems we see today including global warming, animal cruelty and much more.
Reignier continues, “The single titled, “Death Row” and was written by us when we were going through a time where we felt the emergency of the situation of an animals life. We wanted to write something that spoke exactly how we felt. This song is about fur and, by consequences, about animals mistreatment. We don’t understand why a lot of animals are killed for their fur… Most people of the world don’t need fur for protection to the cold, we have a lot of alternative clothes for that. This just for fashion and is cruel.”
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thisisways
https://www.instagram.com/waysofficiel
https://twitter.com/Ways_officiel