Out Now: Future Islands ‘People Who Aren’t There Anymore’

PRAISE FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN’T THERE ANYMORE

“A brutal, beautiful study of the pain of parting… An album that’s too involving and engaging and powerful to count as merely more of the same.”  
THE GUARDIAN’S ALBUM OF THE WEEK, ****

“This is the first Future Islands record which really encapsulates their live energy and vocal unpredictability.”  
LOUD AND QUIET’S ALBUM OF THE WEEK, 8/10

“Few stake out synth-driven new wave as convincingly as Future Islands, partly thanks to the graininess and emotional power of Sam Herring’s voice.”  
THE SUNDAY TIMES, ****

“Winning blend of pop and pathos.”  
THE i, ****

“A beautiful, bruising record… the songs here already instant favourites and others feeling like some of the best, most fully realised of their career thus far.”  
CLASH, 8/10

“The synth pop stalwarts rarely fail to enthral.”  
THE SUN, ****

“There are few bands with a sound so distinctive as to be so singularly  recognisable, and fewer still that have maintained Future Islands’ knack for feeling as fresh as when they started.”  
DIY, ****

Today, Future Islands have released their seventh new album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore to critical praise. This week, the band was a guest on the Broken Record podcast, performed live and was interviewed for WNYC’s All Of It Live Listening Party, played SiriusXM and WFUV, took over the Tower Record’s creative space the Tower Lab and performed ‘The Tower’ on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In the next few days, the band heads to the UK for a Channel 4 Sunday Brunch performance (28 January), two Banquet Records in-stores at Kingston’s PRYZM (30 January) and a BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends session.

People Who Aren’t There Anymore heralds a new chapter for Future Islands who, despite having formed nearly two decades ago, continue to challenge themselves and each other. Where they’ve pursued ever-higher energy anthems in the past, they’ve turned inward this time and unlocked a new level of ferocity. The album delivers some of their most inspiring and heart-breaking tracks by doing the opposite: taking their time, and making each breath, syllable and cymbal crash count. The result is a powerful, defining statement from a group of musicians that have made the best album of their career.

People Who Aren’t There Anymore was co-produced by Future Islands and Steve Wright. It was mixed by Wright and Chris Coady, who hasn’t worked with the band since 2014’s Singles. It is available digitally, on CD, cassette and on standard black vinyl, transparent vinyl (indie retailers only) and yellow & black ‘yolk’ vinyl with alternative artwork (4AD/band store exclusive).

In the lead up to the album’s release, Future Islands debuted the Jonathan van Tulleken (Top Boy, Shogun)-directed video for album track ‘The Tower‘ and videos by Jayla Smith for both the sensual, synth-based groove ‘The Fight‘ and ‘Say Goodbye‘, an examination of a long distance relationship unravelling. Prior to announcing the album, the band also released eventual album tracks ‘Deep in the Night‘, ‘King of Sweden‘ and ‘Peach‘.

Future Islands have announced dates in South America this spring, and festivals in the UK & Europe this summer with more dates to be announced.

Future Islands is Samuel T. Herring (vocals, lyrics), William Cashion (bass, guitars), Gerrit Welmers (keyboards, programming) and Michael Lowry (drums).

Future Islands Tour Dates
16 March – GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, Teatro Studio
17 March – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, Vive Latino Festival
19 March – LIMA, PERU, Centro de Covenciones Barranco
21-24 March – BOGOTA, COLUMBIA, Estereo Picnic Festival
23-26 May – SOUTH DERBYSHIRE, UK, Bearded Theory
25 May – LEEDS, UK, Live at Leeds in the Park
26 July – SOUTHWOLD, UK, Latitude Festival
30 July – GLASGOW, UK, Kelvingrove Bandstand
2 August – KATOWICE, POLAND, OFF Festival
4 August – WATERFORD, IRELAND, All Together Now
5 August – LOKEREN, BELGIUM, Lokerse Festival

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