The August Arrival Find Peace & Acceptance On “Hillsides”
By: Chris Buxton IG: @chrisbuxtonllg
Raw, daring, & captivating are all words that describe emerging indie-folk band The August Arrival. Hailing from Yukon, Canada, The August Arrival will resonate with fans of intimate indie-folk rock. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Postdata, Blind Pilot, and Manchester Orchestra, their sound is carried by driving melodies, atmospheric production, and lyrics that evoke raw emotions out of their listeners. Led by songwriter & vocalist Sara MacDonald, The August Arrival is a solo project supported by friends, incorporating live and recording contributions from an array of musicians. After being impressed by their singles “Camped Out”, “Whisper”, & “Fleeting and Forever”, they have made their return with their long-awaited album, “Hillsides”.
“Hillsides” is an 8-track album that reminds us of that strength and beauty emerge from life’s most challenging moments. Personally, this album hit home. I recently lost my wife to cancer, and I have had to find myself. As time has passed, I felt stronger as a person, and I feel like I’m finding a beautiful new version of myself. This album gave me hope. The captivating sonics and poetic lyrics drove home their lyrics that detailed loss of a loved one, a health scare, a child autism diagnosis, change, and appreciation. The range of emotions are captured to perfection over these 8 well-crafted songs. For me, I loved the captivating melodies & dynamic production.
My favorite songs were “Camped Out”, “Whisper”, & “Fleeting and Forever”. “Camped Out” is carried by emotional vocals, atmospheric strings, instrumentation adds a nice edge to the song. “Whisper” is laced with rich sounds, dynamic sonics, and I loved the rhythmic foundation. “Fleeting and Forever” was my personal favorite. It dives into themes of challenge and the fleeting feel love & existence. It was one of the most honest tracks on the album. This record sets the tone for the rest of the album.
“Hillsides” is an album that needs to be heard, and I continue to be impressed with every listen. Listen to the album below.
