Islands

Islands return with not one, but TWO new albums on May 13. These are two distinct, entirely unique records, each one a wholly individual offering. The forthcoming albums, Taste and Should I Remain Here At Sea? will be released on limited edition vinyl and digitally via Manqué Music.
 
In keeping with the dual nature of things, Islands has announced east and west coast tours in the spring. The west coast run will be supported by Honus Honus (of Man Man), while the east coast dates will be supported by Lushlife.
 
SPIN has premiered a playlist featuring "The Joke" from Taste and "Christmas Tree" from Should I Remain Here At Sea?. Islands Nick Thorburn told SPIN, "'The Joke' is Islands’ first real attempt at anything overtly political, a reaction to the racial tensions and police brutality in America and the struggle to galvanize the general population against injustice and indifference." He adds, "'Christmas Tree,' recorded entirely live in one take, represents the personal, a further exploration of what Freud termed the death drive; a willingness to self-destruct completely. I’m calling it now: the song of the summer!"
 
This winter, Stereogum premiered "Back Into It" from Should I Remain Here At Sea? and "Charm Offensive" from Taste. Thorburn says,"Back Into It' "is a study in contradiction. It’s a bright, loose affair, with bubblegum backing vocals and major key guitar chugging, but you don’t have to dig that deep to hear the venom, acrimonious and sour.  When someone rains on your parade, make rain on your parade lemonade." By contrast, he says, "'Charm Offensive' is all sharp angles, smooth lines and mechanical melodies, but just underneath is a desire for the round edges, the soft corners, a loose swing and some crude revelry. I was trying to express that urge to find the good times, and let the bad ones go. To stop using songwriting as a pool to wallow in. To find the light, to sneak in, “pull back the shades, see the darkness fade”.
 
Last summer, Islands decamped to a little studio in Toronto to record the upcoming albums.

Taste, Islands’ sixth record, is a muscular, crystalline affair, with the majority of the music electronic, buoyed by drum machines, programming and arpeggiated vintage synths. The songs still flirt with Islands’ bread and butter; evergreens such as ennui, remorse, and a general disenchantment with the modern world hover over the tracks, with lines like “we got so thrown, we felt lost at home” and “steal a little moment, lose it like you own it”, to hammer home the point. The songs cut a wide swath, however, and also go in directions that Islands has never tackled, including police brutality and white male privilege (!).
 


Should I Remain Here At Sea? (a semi-reference to Tarkovsky’s "Solaris") Islands’ seventh album is, in many ways, a spiritual sequel to the debut album, 2006’s Return to the Sea; a natural, raw record, stripped down to it’s essentials, performed live off the floor. Reflecting on the decade that has elapsed, SIRHAS kicks off with a darkly funny tartness, tackling religion, race, addiction, and murderous fantasies, but by midpoint, the songs give way to a resigned and doleful melancholia, tackling heartache, numb disillusionment and emotional disorientation through the guise of stupid parrots, the Internet, sea turtles and perhaps the loneliest maritimer to ever sail the seas. It was recorded as spontaneously as could be, with some of the songs captured live in one take, vocals and all.
 
Both albums were produced by Nick Thorburn and Evan Gordon. Taste was mixed by Roger Levinsand and SIRHAS was mixed by Rob Schnapf. About the process, Nick says: “Contained on these albums are the saddest songs I've ever written, the funniest songs I've ever written, the catchiest songs, and the most satisfying songs. Excuse all the superlatives, but I honestly don't think I've ever walked away from a recording process more fulfilled and invigorated." 

RIYL: The Unicorns, Of Montreal, Wolf Parade
TRY: #1, 6 - DIRTY: #4, 8 on SIRHAS
TRY: #1, 9, 11 on Taste

Download both albums here:
https://www.piratepirate.com/downloads/

More Info Here:
http://islandsareforever.com
https://twitter.com/NickfromIslands
https://www.facebook.com/islandsareforever/