- Last summer, at the tender age of 20, German-born David August made waves with his debut Instant Harmony EP, whose standout track "Moving Day" successfully stewed layered keys and wordless wail for multiple goosebump moments. At the risk of making a facile connection, I'd say that such productions do reflect a certain youthful energy, a restlessness that seeks release in cathartic rush. August's new one, again for Diynamic, keeps up the pace with a solid four-track EP that doesn't skimp on swells and beat drops, but is perhaps more focused and house-y than its predecessor.
"Peace of Conscience" starts with a tech-y shuffle and a melancholic party vibe, minor key organs supporting a quiet plaint of "you got me down down down." The groove, however, seems to be headed in the other direction, as bright digital synth stabs grow out of nowhere and the organs begin radiating a blinding white light, in a cleansing, churchlike drone. "Hamburg Is For Lovers" takes it time building to a peak designed to the same scale as its A-side brother, with organ drone swapped out for a choirlike cluster of voices swooping in from a distance.
With Totolua on hand, "Soul Fiction" is deeper and more muted. When he admonishes an amorous acquaintance for being too forward, "whoa whoa whoa take it easy!" it seems like he's talking directly to the music, and that August is taking notes, rolling off his banger sensibilities for something more restrained. You can, however, still detect August's love for freq/res tweak lurking in the background—he grants it free rein on the closer "Roco Coco," where it snakes happily up and down, unrestrained by keys or vocals.
Tracklist A1 Peace of Conscience
A2 Hamburg Is for Lovers
B1 Soul Fiction feat. Totolua
B2 Roco Coco