Album #277: Future Islands – As Long As You Are

• Released: 2020
• Origin: Greenville, North Carolina, USA
• Label: 4AD
• Best Track: For Sure

Future Islands have become the epitome of a solid, reliable band. Their albums are all pretty similar in truth, but they’ve carved out their own sound to the point where it barely matters, and new material from them is always a treat.

New sixth album As Long As You Are is as good as anything I’ve heard from the band. Again, it’s not a drastic departure from what they’ve done previously, but the songs are just great, and Samuel T. Herring’s always expressive nature comes across particularly well on it.

Future Islands are such a visual experience, not least with Herring’s endearingly ungainly dancing, that this isn’t always encapsulated on their records. You do “feel” it on this one though. Herring’s enunciated vocals on opener ‘Glada’ are invigorating, and then ‘For Sure’ is the sort of catchy, euphoric ’80s pop they’ve specialised in for years.

‘Waking’ also stands out, with its synthy, nostalgic intro, and ‘Thrill’ is a simple song that serves up one of Herring’s more impressive vocal performances.

More of the same is absolutely fine with this lot.