The August Empire
“Atmosphere”
L.A.’s most creative musical duo, Dante Marchi and Liz Constantine, returns with another experimental album of piano-driven confections and synth-y creations that expand the Angeleno soundscape in more unexpected ways, from the titular ballad “Atmosphere” to the country-inflected duet “Beautiful.” Mr. Marchi takes center stage on the opening tones on the mournful ode to loss, “Deep Blue Sea,” before Miss Constantine elegantly joins him in vibrant counterpoint, serious vocal harmonizing and a ghostly trance on a haunting upper descant. This is musical storytelling at its very best — a track that somehow, incredibly, makes the listener long for the pain. “Los Angeles” is a redolent peaon to the band’s home base. While not especially grandiose in structure, the cut does feature an ode to hope in the lyric: “Los Angeles, save me and carry us through.” “The Battle” closes out the EP as an ode to love.
While not as diverse in tone or subject as their last effort, the masterful “Before the Hereafter,” “Atmosphere” nonetheless is a hopeful disc at a time when optimism is needed, as well as an artistic expression of the wealth of Los Angeles culture that doesn’t feel the need to bite the hand that feeds. Mr. Marchi and Miss Constantino again prove their mettle of their musicality, as they have for years.
“Atmosphere” is available at CDBaby.com and iTunes.
• Eric Althoff can be reached at twt@washingtontimes.com.
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