Future Islands Returns for Another Somber, Synthy Record
The vinyl of "People Who Aren't There Anymore" along with its cover art. Photo via Andrew Breen '25
Future Islands is a band with a unique voice, and you have heard it. “Running away is easy, It’s the leaving that’s hard” is probably a lyric you’ve heard on TikTok or Instagram.
From BADBADNOTGOOD’s “Time Moves Slow,” an emotional track from their record “IV,” those lyrics are sung by Future Island’s Samuel T. Herring. With his recent exposure on “Time Moves Slow,” at least two billion views of the song in just 2021 alone, people should point their attention to the melancholic beauty of Future Island’s discography.
Established in Baltimore in 2006, Future Islands consists of singer Samuel T. Herring, keyboardist Gerrit Welmers, bassist William Cashion, and drummer Micheal Lowry. Future Islands got mainstream attention by appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2014. In probably the most remarkable example, Samuel T. Herring channeled all of his bizarre stage presence as he flowed and lunged across the stage to their hit “Seasons (Waiting on You).” They became a viral sensation that garnered millions of views, which helped in the success of their 4th album, “Singles.”
“Singles” is a fantastic record, with its varying synth-pop tracks all being a joy to listen to, and is the best way to get a feel of the band. Future Islands has a consistent sound throughout all of its records. It's not a band that has gone through massive evolutions in its sound, but it has improved with the expansion of its studio and live performances.
On Jan. 26, “People Who Aren’t There Anymore” was released as the band’s seventh album and reached the heights of “Singles” a decade ago. Putting the music aside, this album has an excellent presentation. In the age of streaming, album art has become an element of music that is frequently put on the back burner. However, for “People Who Aren’t There Anymore,” the cover artwork by New Mexico artist Beedallo is vibrant and striking, with these strange, dancing figures cast in a combination of yellow and red.
If the album’s title is a somber reflection of the themes of the record, the tracks themselves go from ebullient to moody. The overall feel of the album is one of swooning and nostalgia, both lyrically and soundwise.
Spanning 12 songs, the album’s A-side, its first six songs, is a run of some of the best tracks the band has put out. “King of Sweden” is a jubilant opener. Herring's rising, synthy keyboards and rousing vocals are the perfect distillation of what makes the band original.
The uniqueness of Future Islands comes not only from its mixture of pop and rock elements in its sound but in its vocals. Herring is undoubtedly one of the most striking vocalists currently; his distinctly deep voice elevates the lyrics of the band.
The writing shifts between the poetic, like on the track “Corner of My Eye,” with lines such as “How on the darkest nights, It all can leave you, in the blink of an eye, And on the palest moons I still see you running into the white,” to the forthcoming, with tracks like “Say Goodbye,” with lyrics “But I don’t wanna say goodnight, Cuz every day without you feels one closer to goodbye.” The earnestness within Future Islands’ writing is refreshing to other bands; it adds authenticity to the lyrics and makes the writing feel personal.
Tracks like “The Thief,” “Iris,” and “The Sickness” are other standouts, once again combining wistful lyrics juxtaposed with its uplifting choral highs of drums and synth. “People Who Aren’t There Anymore” isn’t a complete breakthrough for Future Islands but is a continuation of well-produced, intelligently composed songs that they are known for. The music they produced has an essence of goodness to it, a level of positivity through its presentation. Therefore this record is one that is worth listening to for both music fans and casual listeners alike.