Whatever the Weather II - S/T

A Closer Listen

Whatever the Weather II’s opening track, “1°C,” samples a voice that observes, “Bit chilly, innit? […] Can’t wait for it to be summer.” It’s the voice of the artist, Loraine James, or Whatever the Weather, which is a moniker she reserves for her own unique brand of IDM. This is James’ second self-titled release under this alias. The first made it onto our Top 20 Albums of the Year in 2022– and it was not the only Loraine James album to do so! Needless to say, this sequel was a welcome and highly anticipated release. 

Whatever the Weather II lives up to its title in that it really is a sequel to the 2022 album, rather than just a second release. 2022’s Whatever the Weather (I) has an icy and introspective soundscape, and its cover art features a dusky Antarctic landscape to match. Whatever the Weather II picks up right where its predecessor leaves off, and continues its conceptual thread. The voice in the opening track goes on to say, “It’s proper cold, I just wanna go home and hibernate.” Many can relate to this mid-winter despair. Luckily, “1°C” (only slightly above freezing) is as cold as this album gets. 

The third track, “18°C” is an ambient atmospheric lull, though it keeps the listener on their toes with unexpected silences as well as moments of radiant arpeggios– rays of sun amidst a storm, perhaps. Temperatures continue to rise, leading to “20°C,” a standout track which layers glitchy rhythms over a field recording of idle conversation among a crowd. The fast-paced percussion makes this track the most reminiscent of both classic IDM as well as of 2022’s Whatever the Weather. Where the first album’s beats tend towards desolation, though, the latter’s sound is sunnier and more playful. (Illustrating the point, its cover art shows another hazy landscape, but this time it’s a sweltering desert instead of a frigid tundra.)

The next track, “23°C (Intermittent Sunshine)” sounds like wind chimes in a breeze. Warm and flowing, it still harbours moments of discordant uncertainty, like a false spring. Later comes “11°C (Intermittent Rain).” These are the only two titles on the album with parentheticals, and the recurring format links them not only to each other, but again to the 2022 release, which contains two tracks with identical parentheticals. In the first album, the sunshine and rain occur at the extreme temperatures of 28°C  and 2°C. Whatever the Weather II is more temperate in general. It leans less towards manic glitch and more towards peaceful ambient. That said, its sequencing and rhythms are never predictable.

We hear the artist’s voice again as the album closes out, over twangs of acoustic guitar and hand drums, as though she’s at a summer evening jam session. This time she laments, “It’s so hot, innit? […] I just wanna go to the beach…” Winters are too cold and summers are too hot– another relatable sentiment. We always long for the season we’re not currently experiencing, regardless of the time of year… or, whatever the weather. James masterfully weaves a coherent sonic narrative by continuously tying the record back in on itself. It becomes not just a sequel to its first installment, but also a completion of it– or perhaps a continuation of a cycle. The album leaves us with a warm, lingering promise that each season and year to come holds its own unique beauty. (Maya Merberg)