Future Islands have graced these pages a couple of times since I first heard them in 2020 thanks to Sirius XMU radio. I was a fan the minute I heard “For Sure” and quickly bought the album, As Long as You Are (see my album review Future Islands: As Long as You Are Review). After watching the video of their 2014 appearance on David Letterman, I kept an eye out for any upcoming tour dates. You can imagine my excitement when I saw that they were going to be in Paris in summer 2023 coinciding with my vacation there. Needless to say, September 5, 2023, is one of my most memorable concerts (Future Islands Concert Review: Une Soiree Speciale a Paris!) And now, we have their seventh album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, released on January 26, 2024.
Future Islands are Samuel T. Herring (lyrics, vocals), William Cashion (guitars), Gerrit Welmers (keyboards, programming), and Michael Lowry (drums). They grew up as friends in North Carolina and are now based in Baltimore, MD. You can’t read an article about them without the Letterman gig being highlighted. It quickly became the most viewed music video on You Tube. It showcased the singing and gyrations of front man Herring. He’s dancing throughout, often in bend down-low-motions. He lets out growly roars and pounds his chest like he’s just scored a touchdown. Letterman was truly blown away. This performance of “Seasons (Waiting on You)”, from their 2014 album Singles, vaulted the band to new heights of popularity. After three albums and 10 years of heavy touring, they were an overnight success.
As Long As You Are explored broken relationships with both heartbreak and hope as possible outcomes. As its title implies, People Who Aren’t There Anymore doubles down on these themes with emphasis on the heartbreak. The songs are a diary of emotions about Herring’s breakup with his long-term long-distance Swedish partner. While some songs pick up the pace musically, the words imbue a mournful and vulnerable soul. People… opens with the up tempo “King of Sweden” on a train to Stockholm when “all went silent” in a chorus of “You are all I need.” If there’s an anthem it’s “The Tower” where “I am waiting on the other side.” “Deep in the Night” sets itself apart with some nice six-string guitar amidst the sleepless nights, “When I miss you more.” On the bass-thumping “Say Goodbye,” halfway around the world from each other makes “saying good night one step closer to saying goodbye.” And on “The Thief,” the yearning “pain is never ending, but I’m forgiving at least.”
The interplay between Herring’s aching baritone and the shifting synths are the band’s signature sound. People Who Aren’t There Anymore doesn’t tread any new ground. It’s familiar and consistent to the point of the songs blending together. Careful listening reveals distinct elements and minor refinements that reinforce the band’s maturity and confidence in their chosen path. They’re right where they belong.
D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐
Trivia: The Far Field, Future Islands’ 2017 album didn’t go over too well (even the band agrees it’s their low point.) It did include, however, “Shadows,” a duet featuring what famous new waver? Answer below.
Answer: Deborah Harry