Days of August - “Van Gogh”
Photo by Leo Kramer
Rogaland, Norway-based trio Days of August have returned! We last heard from them in March, upon the release of the gloriously folksy “Postcards.” Today, we join them in celebrating the unveiling of their new single, “Van Gogh,” a track which beholds one of the most glorious, natural crescendos we’ve ever heard.
Pressing play on “Van Gogh” invites a marvelous string arrangement into your ears, swiftly followed by vast layers of ethereal backing vocals– as far as we’re concerned, it’s the perfect soundtrack for some sort of out-of-body experience. It’s not long before the chugging of an acoustic guitar enters the sonic space, setting the pace for the ensuing lyrical delivery.
Fans of Hollow Coves and Old Sea Brigade will be exceedingly grateful that they discovered this track as the cinematic vocals begin, layered in a fine blanket of reverb, conjuring imagery of a star-filled sky as they sharply allude to the work of Vincent van Gogh. A subtle harmony is present, offering an illustrious thickness to the performance, one of our favorite attributes inside of any good folk song.
Between the verses, the dreamlike background vocals return and you should not be surprised if you find yourself feeling suddenly at peace with your very existence. The main selling point is, of course, the fact that the entirety of “Van Gogh” is one giant crescendo, rising like a wave from the sea to come and wash away all of your earthly troubles. Orchestral percussion has been utilized here, lifting the entire production as though some sort of towering giant and one cannot help but imagine this thing in the next Hollywood blockbuster.
If you like what you hear inside of “Van Gogh,” we highly encourage you to press play on the entire LP, Postcards, which is available everywhere today. Within it, you shall find the aforementioned title track, as well as such gems as “Sundance Kid,” a stripped-back and cinematic journey through dreamy and reverberating tones reminiscent of both Novo Amor and Bon Iver. It also possesses Days of August’s signature crescendo, which makes it another perfect add for your favorite, folksy playlist.
-HD