Future Islands seem to have come out of nowhere to win over fans and critics. The Baltimore based three piece synth pop outfit has been working the small club circuit since 2006. Their performances were something of a spectacle, carried by the theatrics of front man Samuel T. Herring. His norm core styling belies the uninhibited spirit that comes out when he takes the mic. When Future Islands took the stage on the "Late Show With David Letterman," the world got a taste of what Herring could deliver and Future Islands' secret was out. Beyond the theatrics, the music can hold more than its own weight. Herring's voice is somewhat unconventional, but fits tightly into the pop framework set by Gerrit Welmers' programming and William Cashion's guitar and bass. The songs move between gentle, melancholic moments to fully ecstatic and unrestrained, with the band appearing to have mastered the full spectrum in between. It all may seem like a bit much, but that is the whole point. Future Islands exist to encourage impulsive and uninhibited behavior in their audience. And for all intents and purposes it seems to be working.

• black vinyl pressing
• music label: 4AD 2014

reviewed by Le Haim 03/2015