Into An Atmosphere, Marcus William Striplin’s excellent sophomore LP under his folky Americana project Margaret Chavez, is a haunting, soothing, fully-enveloping record.
Across eight tracks, Striplin pulls few punches. From taking listeners through familial trauma at an ICE detention center in "The Croupiers Unite I.C.E. ("To be a cat licking your paws in front of an ice detention bus") to the power-driven wrestling match in "I Virgo" ("Forever keeper of the past//you use your powers to advance and cripple") the record achieves the evergreen without watering down the present.
Just when the terms of engagement appear to be dictated, Striplin kicks up the dust and unleashes swelling synths and psychedelic guitar textures, making for a markedly different soundscape. ("H O R A" shines bright.) Though occasionally feeling almost sparse or trim, the record has adequate space between the sobering emotional stakes evoked throughout.
For all of its elegance, quiet, and restraint, Into An Atmosphere is also a decisive, dynamic, and effective shout.
– Ben Wiese