Description
2020, 12″ LP, 4AD.
Is 2020 the year that even managed to break the spirit of Baltimore synth oddballs Future Islands? Well, not quite, but this latest addition to their eccentric oeuvre is a markedly more sombre, heartbroken and emotionally scarred affair than we are used to. Nevertheless, it’s not without a few life-affirming moments and hints of hidden joy. The single ‘Thrill’, which arrived ahead of the full album, certainly set the tone well. A nostalgic slice of downtrodden pop balladry, sweet and helpless, it shares an air of sadness with the waves of synth that dominate opener ‘Glada’. Even when the beats break from the starting blocks with more urgency – say, ‘For Sure’ or the bassline pulses of ‘Waking’ – you can’t help but feel this is a beautifully tragic experience. – Juno
