FUTURE ISLANDS - "SINGLES"

Artist: Future Islands

Album: Singles

Label: 4AD

Release Date: March 25^th, 2014

Review By: Sean Kayden

Synth-pop romantics, Future Islands, return on a new label (4AD) for their fourth record, “Singles.” While previous albums had a more solemn outlook, such as savagely underrated 2011 LP “On The Water,” this new one has the three-piece Baltimore band pushing forward with much defiance. Perhaps switching labels brought new enthusiasm to this unconventional band, but at any rate, this new aspect layered onto of their signature sound is absolutely invigorating. Other albums encompassed a theme about looking back and reflecting on those times in life. On “Singles” singer/songwriter Samuel Herring affectedly sings about the future that lies ahead. Such with earlier albums, questions are raised, but answers are seldom found, for both past and future situations.

“Singles” is synth heavy yet never overwhelming. The base lines fit harmoniously well. Herring’s vocals are hoarse and deep, but sometimes smooth as if he’s whispering them to you. Sometimes he can shout, sometimes he can hold it in. Both ways are undeniably effective. The coalesce of Herring’s dark vocals and band mates, Gerrit Welmers and William Cashion’s tightly structured, extremely layered music thrive. Future Islands’ music can be danceable, but the vocals and lyrics tend to come off very serious in nature. When the band is at their finest, rarely anything can compare. Songs such as “Seasons (Waiting On You),”A Song For Our Grandfathers” and “A Dream Of You and Me” easily rank up as the best songs of 2014 (without a doubt they will be difficult to match by any band as we proceed into the year). All aforementioned tracks are vastly different one another. Nonetheless, each tune is utterly moving in such an exceptional manner. The record clocks in at about forty-two and a half minutes and like any voyage, there are sights and sounds you’ll remember more so than others.

Future Islands is a group that continues to deliver upon one superlative record after another with little recognition to boot. Their recent weirdly epic performance on The Late Show with David Letterman may boost their cult status popularity. However, that shouldn’t be the reason alone. Future Islands perform songs with a heavy heart. They write about the inner workings of your soul, love that was or never was, and the uncertainty we must come to understand in our lives. They may be asking more questions than they are delivering answers. With this fourth album and conceivably their finest lyrically, it appears the band is finally content without consciously being aware of holding all the answers. Perhaps if they did, we wouldn’t be bestowed with the wondrous opportunity of hearing new material from a band worthy of one’s complete attention.

Grade: 8.3 out of 10

Key Tracks: Seasons (Waiting On You),” “Back in the Tall Grass,” A Song For Our Grandfathers,” “A Dream Of Your and Me”