Originating from Baltimore, Future Islands were three albums into their acclaimed discography when they hit the mainstream in 2014 with their iconic Letterman performance of ‘Seasons (Waiting on You)’, a single which went on to be named the song of the year by Pitchfork, NME and The Guardian (high praise indeed). They followed up on their newfound popularity with 2017’s The Far Field, an energetic set of hits that cemented their style and featured a cameo from none other than Debbie Harry. Now, Future Islands have returned with their sixth studio album, As Long As You Are.
On As Long As You Are, Future Islands stay faithful to their signature sound – a passionate layering of powerful basslines, synthesisers and driving drumbeats that has become their trademark. But this familiar sound has been taken in new directions, with a stronger emphasis on more personal, emotional, and reflective tracks, interspersed between the band’s more characteristic, upbeat numbers.
There are moments of beauty and heartbreak, particularly on the more subdued ‘I Knew You’, which takes the listener on a journey through a toxic past relationship, and the moving single ‘Thrill’. On the latter, lead singer Samuel T. Herring is at his most vulnerable, as he reflects on past issues with addiction and social isolation. These sadder tracks are sonically beautiful – simplistic in their melodies, yet hard-hitting in their storytelling.
Not wanting to dampen the mood too much, these more sombre moments are more than matched by the energetic, synth-laden anthems for which Future Islands are best known. The lead single ‘For Sure’ is perhaps the standout track of the album; synth and bass roll over each other during the verses, building to a surging, euphoric chorus in which Herring declares “I will never keep you from an open door”, capturing the song’s messages of love and trust. Fans of 80s synthpop will be drawn towards ‘Waking’, with its bursts of pulsing synth and its upbeat rhythm, reminiscent of the likes of OMD and New Order. The album finishes on this note too, with ‘Hit the Coast’, a new fan-favourite that would feel at home on any road trip playlist.
One of As Long As You Are’s key strengths is its demonstration of the power of Herring’s vocals, so raw with emotion that at times you can feel his anguish through the music. This coincides with Herring’s distinctively more introspective and thoughtful songwriting, his lyrics grappling with a range of personal challenges and timely political issues.
‘Born in a War’, a pounding track where bassist William Cashion really comes into his own, tackles issues from gun violence to toxic masculinity: “You’re scared/that when a strong man cries/is when a strong man dies,” Herring laments. He despairs at the prevalence of alcoholism and gun culture in rural America (“Raised up in a town that’s 80 proof/Shotgun shells under every roof”) – all of this against a backdrop of shimmering synthesisers and one of the band’s most powerful basslines.
On ‘Plastic Beach’, Herring presents a moving description of his struggles with body dysmorphia and self-deprecation, most poignantly in the lines: “Spent a lifetime in the mirror/picking apart what I couldn’t change/But I saw my mother, my father, my brother/in my face”. It is this vulnerability in Herring’s songwriting that marks the biggest shift for Future Islands; the tracks, while maintaining their easy, indie-pop vibe, have a deeper meaning.
Perhaps the only thing the record is missing is the punchy energy that courses through much of the band’s earlier work. Previous albums The Far Field and Singles jump from hit to hit, with each song capable of getting you on your feet. As Long As You Are, on the other hand, is punctuated by more subdued and sombre tracks that slow the pace of the record. However, whether this is necessarily a bad thing, I feel, is a matter of personal taste. For me, there is something about the album’s less formulaic composition that sets it apart – it has a delightful mix of upbeat anthems and deeply personal and powerful lyrics, that combine to give the album a level of emotion that isn’t felt in much of the band’s previous work. As Long As You Are is a brilliant addition to Future Islands’ discography; one that sees the band exploring new avenues and tackling the big issues, while remaining faithful to their trademark sound.
Image: Raph_PH via WikiCommons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Future_Islands_-Tufnell_Park_Dome-Thursday_4th_May_2017_FIslandsTufnell040517-2(33653653153).jpg
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