There is something timeless about a perfectly crafted jangle-pop song. The chiming guitars, the bittersweet melodies, the subtle tension between joy and melancholy—few bands capture that balance as naturally as GISKE on their latest single, August Came. Released ahead of the band’s forthcoming album Ten Visits, Ten Songs, the track finds the Norwegian trio reconnecting with the guitar-driven sound that first brought attention to members of the acclaimed band The Margarets. The result is a warm, melodic single that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly alive.
Built around shimmering Rickenbacker 12-string guitars, close harmonies, harmonica flourishes, and even touches of harpsichord, August Came wears its influences proudly. Listeners will hear echoes of The Byrds, The Smiths, and Teenage Fanclub, yet GISKE never sound trapped in the past. Instead, they use these classic reference points as a foundation for a song that feels personal and deeply rooted in their own history. The track’s greatest achievement is its emotional atmosphere. As percussionist Ronnie MAG Larsen describes it, August Came captures that fleeting moment when summer is finally at its peak, yet you already sense autumn approaching. That feeling permeates every aspect of the song. The melodies glow with warmth, but there is an undercurrent of wistfulness that prevents the music from becoming overly sentimental. Alex Rinde’s vocal performance is particularly effective. Originally intended as a guide vocal during recording, his unedited take remained in the final mix—and that decision proves crucial. The performance carries an authenticity and vulnerability that perfectly suit the song’s themes of memory, isolation, and searching for belonging.
the song remains intentionally open-ended, but hints of growing up on a small island and feeling disconnected from those around you give the music an emotional depth that lingers long after the final chorus. Rather than spelling everything out, GISKE trust listeners to find their own meaning within the song’s reflective mood. The production is elegant and uncluttered. Recorded at Ocean Sound and Lydbroderiet, the arrangement allows every instrument room to breathe. The restored presence of Rune Berg’s beloved Rickenbacker sound becomes a defining feature, providing the bright shimmer that drives the song forward while reinforcing its nostalgic character. What makes August Came especially compelling is the story behind it. The songwriting partnership between cousins Rune Berg and Alex Rinde stretches back to 1991, when the two first decided to start a band while cycling around the island of Giske. More than three decades later, that creative connection remains intact, giving the song a sense of maturity and lived experience that cannot be manufactured.
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