Atavista (2xLP)

For years, Childish Gambino’s Atavista hid in plain sight. When he released an unfinished version of the record on March 15, 2020, it spent just 12 hours on his website before he pulled it down. Reappearing on streaming a week later as 3.15.20, the project brought up almost as many questions as sparkling neo-soul anthems, which still sounded slicker than the average as raw cuts titled after timestamps. Atavista is an ode to impermanence, never more directly than over the glimmering guitar of “Time” with Grande. (“One thing’s for certain, baby/We’re running out of time,” they harmonize on the chorus.) But in Gambino’s capable hands, Atavista also slows down to enjoy the view, the sonic equivalent of a luxe leather-interior BMW cruising an open California highway. “I did what I wanted to,” he revels on closing track “Final Church.” Atavista took many shapes over the years to reach a final form. In each warm refrain, tight sequence, and carefully chosen collaborator, Gambino demonstrates why some things are worth waiting for. Tracklist: A1        Atavista A2        Algorhythm A3        Time Featuring – Ariana Grande B1        Psilocybae (Millennial Love) featuring – 21 Savage, Ink, Kadhja Bonet B2        To Be Hunted C1        Sweet Thang Featuring – Summer Walker C2        Little Foot Big Foot Featuring – Young Nudy D1        Why Go To The Party D2        Human Sacrifice D3        The Violence D4        Final Church