Always the Runner's self-titled EP was quite the surprise when it was sent to me back in the summer of 2004. On the cover were some birds flying in the sky, a rainbow, and a leaping deer amongst other aspects of nature against a sky blue backdrop. This could've meant anything, so I was glad to receive a number of gentle, dreamy instrumental songs. The full-length followup here features the same type of artwork in an autumn sense, with birds perched on a tree branch and a setting sun in the background, so I suppose it makes sense that An August Golf hasn't altered their ways all that much. They're still providing super upbeat, atmospheric post-rock, but maybe with more vocals this time around.

The band is still most certainly taking cues from the happiest Appleseed Cast moments. The songs weave in and out of careful chords and soft drum rolls, these of which are most evident in "You're Jumping Across Mountains." The song also carries on a few xylophone taps quite effectively as it begins to slowly break down. Things pick up temporary steam in its follower, "I Thought I'd Find You Here." "The Closest I Ever Came to Lightning" is a bit repetitive at some of its portions, but works as nice background noise at worst. There's some classy piano work in "An August Golf, Pt. 1," but it's most effective in "Pt. 2;" while birds chirp in the background, heart-wrenching strokes drop one by one.

Last time around, the first and last track contained the soothing call of Chad Favre, and if I'm not mistaken, he again handles the minimal sung lines on An August Golf. Here it's on the opener "Miles," and on the second-to-last track, "Something Important Happened in Falls Church;" Favre sounds frail in an endearing way on this one; it works, simply, as well as the low, gravelly females singing in unison with him at the mid-point. It also closes with some of the heavier guitars they've ever employed.

Overall, it doesn't seem Always the Runner has manipulated their formula all that much. Again, if you're looking for a beautiful 42 minutes of instrumental music that can lull you to sleep in only the best of ways, check it out.

MP3
Miles

STREAM
You're Jumping Across Mountains
An August Golf, Pt. 1
Should a Bear Interrupt Your Picnic