Record Shopping: Future Islands

"In Evening Air" is one of our favourite albums of the year so when we were offered the chance to spend an afternoon with Future Islands at our favourite second hand record shop, Flashback, we jumped at the chance quicker than front man Sam Herring jumps into the audience Their dramatic pop music is explained by Cocteau Twins, Eno and Slayer...



William: The first one is the Cooley High soundtrack. It's a movie I've never seen but it's got a lot of classics on it. I was looking for The Animal House one actually...
There's Baby Love by Diana Ross, I Can't Help Myself by The Four Tops. Man, there's even Dancing In The Street.



Neu: What do you think the film is about?

William: There's making out, there's a nerdy guy trying to get the girl. I'd say this is your average teen film.

Cocteau Twins - Victorialand



William: It's just a classic. Not like the rest of their records but great. I got it in '97.

Neu: Were you into this kind of thing?

William: Not really. This was my first ambient pop record.

Slayer - Everything, ever.



J.G: Slayer are the greatest band ever.

Neu: When did you get into them?

J.G: When I was 13 I think. I've never given it up. This is the first one I got. I had a friend and I think his brother gave it to me. I wasn't even really in to metal and then I heard this. It got heavier from there.

Neu: Are you going to bring some 'metal' to Future Islands?

J.G: Oh no... I still play guitar though.

Neu: Yeah? What's your metal band called?

J.G: I don't have a band. Just in my mind, you know...

Neu: I think we need to find this man a metal band

J.G: I've never seen them live either. I was going to see them in France but we're on tour. I think I'm doomed not to see them. They are doing Seasons from The Abyss (sighs). Raining Blood is my favourite track.

Neu: What would you say to people who think it is just loud and angry?

J.G: Give it a try! It's fun.

Brian Eno - Before and After Science
Talking Heads - Fear of Music






Sam: There is so much in here so I had to think of it as a perspective of "what would I HAVE to buy.I've got both of these on tapes for years. I found them in a pawn shop in the town i went to college in when I was 18.

Neu: Do they still work?

Sam: I lost this tape and I've had William's copy on LP for about 5 years. I don't think he even knows that I have it... I heard this when I was 18 or 19 and it really blew my mind. I grew up listening to hip hop and jazz, not this kind of thing. At college I was turned on to loads of stuff.

Actually, the day before I left the US my girlfriend was playing this record and I was thinking how Spider & I hits me these days. Eno is our dream producer so if you're listening.

I don't really like The Talking Head. I know it is blasphemous to say but hey I do like this album. I got it on tape 5 years ago when all I had in my car was cassette. Finally it started to sink in. The amazing thing about the album is that David Byrne, really writes. He writes from a cerebral place. You can sing a song about a place or person but I think he writes like a brain thinks. He asks questions rather than hem up a story. It's kind of like The Smiths, This Charming Man in the way it pulls you in. Byrne is really open. I really respect the words and songwriting. Oh woah! It's another Eno. I've never realised that....

Future Islands tour the UK in September and October

Wed Sep 29 London, UK CAMP Basement
Thu Sep 30 Brighton, UK New Hero
Fri Oct 1 Manchester, UK Islington Mill
Sat Oct 2 Glasgow, UK Cry Parrot
Sun Oct 3 Leeds, UK The Library

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