Tuesday 22 April 2014

TORONTO TIM SAYS: MORE NEW MUSIC: FUTURE ISLANDS - SINGLES

Singles
Here's where I hand the page over to Tim Patrick; our friend from Canada who has an insatiable appetite for new music. Tim has unearthed some unearthly pleasures recently. This one's no exception...

I caught this band on 'Late Night With David Letterman' show recently, and at first didn't know quite what to think. Shoegazer synth-pop backing band with a bonkers Stanley Kowalski look-alike singer crooning away, beating his chest, punching the air, doing the same nerdy dancing that I used to do as a lad.
Yikes! 
Awkward? 
Strange? 
Parody? 
Or friggin' great?
Certainly left grumpy old Dave Letterman gushing 'n grinning like I've never seen before...
Damnedest thing was that after just one listen to "Seasons (Waiting On You)", the tune embedded in my noggin', and I couldn't get to sleep for hours...
"People change, But you know that some people never do."
When people change, they gain a peace, but they lose one too.
I've been waiting on you....I've been hanging on you."

Since then I've watched/listened to the YouTube clip dozens of times (along with 1,000,000+ other folk), and despite the weirdness... it's a mesmerizing performance, and I sheepishly have to admit that I love It. Kind of a 80's synth-pop throwback, Peter Hook-ish melodic bass-lines, OMD/Spandau Ballet synthscapes, but with a "real" drummer. Vocally, I hear some similarity to Roland Gift from Fine Young Cannibals, except when he drops in a scary Tom Waits growl @ 3:08. Or is that the Cookie Monster... or Death Metal?
There's something endearing about lead-singer Samuel T Herring. He's an odd performer, but his passion, conviction and honesty connects with this old fart. Have a listen to his interviews and you'll see that contrary to his eccentric on-stage persona, he's actually a sincere, down to earth fellow… 
The CD arrived today, and first impressions are that it's pretty solid. Nothing ground-breaking, but if you like 80's style synth-pop music with an odd vocal twist, give it a spin...
The new album is titled 'SINGLES' on 4AD Records. 
It's getting brilliant reviews...

SEASONS - (Live On David Letterman): 


SEASONS - (album version/official video): 


A DREAM OF YOU AND ME - (album version):


FUTURE ISLANDS (Live at KCRW):


FUTURE ISLANDS (Live at KEXP - sans dance moves): 


Future Islands

2 comments:

  1. Like the song ,love the performance. Looks like a young Burt Reynolds
    Phil
    Tel Aviv

    ReplyDelete
  2. He made me think of a young Marlon Brando. The performance is bonkers and mesmeric...

    ReplyDelete