Most music tends to take the listener on an aural journey, sometimes to a lonely café as the rain floods the streets, or to another time, triggering memories from the past. Future Islands’ musical tapestries do indeed wrap one with a magical travel cloak, jetting from the open seas aboard a grand ship, to a dusty road, hitching a ride to the coast.
On The Water, released in October on (Thrill Jockey), seems to touch on each of the five elements – air, fire, water, earth and sky – plucking characters of the elements for use on each song’s canvas.
The video for “Balance,” directed by Jay Buim, a friend of Future Islands, captures that free spirit of the song and the relentless desire to venture. In slight contrast is “Where I Found You,” as lead singer Samuel T. Herring, with his eccentric vocal style and penchant for grandiose storytelling, reflects on another time with a sense of knowing.
The title track embodies the intricate layering of old sea samples and organic instrumentation, with a ceremonial crash of cymbals and endearing keyboard line that sews with golden thread, complex melodies. And in slight contrast is “Before The Bridge,” bouncing with a light and optimistic electro tone.
Future Islands have garnered ecstatic accolades for the band’s live performances. With a bevy of new tracks in their case, we expect the wide-eyed fans attending their shows during this current tour to continue to pass along the tales.
The Baltimore band, which also includes bassist William Cashion, and keyboardist Gerrit Welmers, come to Denver this Wednesday, November 9, performing with Ed Schrader’s Music Beat and The Don’ts And Be Carefuls at Larimer Lounge.
Future Islands – Balance from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.
Mon Nov 7 – Marfa, TX Padre’s @
Tue Nov 8 – Santa Fe, NM VFW @
Wed Nov 9 – Denver, CO Larimer Lounge @
Thu Nov 10 – Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court @
Fri Nov 11 – Boise, ID Neurolux @
Sat Nov 12 – Seattle, WA The Vera Project @
Sun Nov 13 – Portland, OR Mississippi Studios @
Tue Nov 15 – San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill @
Wed Nov 16 – Santa Barbara, CA Muddy Waters @
Thu Nov 17 – Los Angeles, CA The Echo @
Fri Nov 18 – Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar @
Sat Nov 19 – San Diego, CA The Casbah @
Sun Nov 20 – Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room @
Wed Nov 23 – New Orleans, LA Circle Bar @
Fri Nov 25 – Birmingham, AL The Bottletree @
Sat Nov 26 – Atlanta, GA The Earl @
Sun Nov 27 – Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle @
Mon Nov 28 – Wilmington, NC The Soapbox @
Tue Nov 29 – Charlottesville, VA Twisted Branch @
Wed Nov 30 – Lancaster, PA The Lizard Lounge @
Thu Dec 1 – New York, NY Bowery Ballroom @
Fri Dec 2 – Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie @
Sat Dec 3 – Baltimore, MD Ottobar @
* w/Javelin @ w/Ed Schrader’s Music Beat
http://future-islands.com/
http://www.myspace.com/futureislands
http://www.thrilljockey.com/
