EP Review: august at night – Collection I

Making a unique blend of atmospheric r&b and introspective acoustic tendencies, august at night makes music that fits somewhere between Frank Ocean and Sufjan Stevens. Gloriously melancholic yet pleasingly soulful and carrying an undercurrent of airy R&B, the new EP ‘Collection I’ showcases the radio of sonic textures and musical approaches at august at night’s disposal.

Opening with the strummed nylon strung acoustic on ‘all i ever had’, the EP sets a etherial melancholic tone as reverb drenched synth notes ring out under the emotive layers of captivating vocal harmonies and relatable lyricism. As the track continues to build with swelling modulation soaked synths, the track grows into a climactic final chorus with a bouncing electronic kick adding a driving energy.

‘type’ showcases more of the lofi-electronic-R&B side to august’s sound with deep electronic bass, electronic beats and swirling synths surrounding a plucky guitar loop and the ever silk lead vocals. ‘fault line’ captures a more dreampop tone with infectious melodies and layers of atmospheric synths, gentle acoustic guitar and a beautifully glitchy, understated soundscape reminiscent of RHODES with a hint of Bon Iver for good measure.

Closing with ‘Hourglass’, the EP closes out with another fine example of the tight, relatable songwriting and atmospheric lo-fi guitar/ electronic blend thats stylisic of august at night’s sound.

august explains the project:

“There is Collection I, and there are the songs that came before it. We call that period, “the before times”. Those times are prehistoric. Primordial. They’re a planet that doesn’t know yet what it is, or what it wants to be.

Collection I is Era One. The birth of something special. Something that pokes its smooth head out of the water and looks up at the setting sun, the rising stars, and says I am.

This is august at night. Welcome.”

A simplistic yet affecting and thoughtful EP that feels at once emotive and personal whilst retaining a fiercely modern, cool sense of identity, ‘Collection I’ is a brilliant introduction to august at night as an artist.

Listen below: