If you’re a fan of Bowie-as-balladeer, are wishing that Spencer Krug would get back to playing rock music, or think it’s been too long since Destoyer released Kaputt, then Future Islands might have an interesting proposition for you. Much like the aforementioned artists at their best, Future Islands completely disregard distinctions between things like “synthetic” and “acoustic” or “drama” and “melodrama”, mash it all together, and finish with a product that is surprisingly cohesive. But the group isn’t haphazard in the least – they show impressive craftsmanship throughout the record: from the beauty and restraint of “When I Found You” to the pep of singles “Before the Bridge” and “Balance”, you hear the sound of a group methodically breaking down the past and reconfiguring the future to their liking. – Mike Nigro
