Future Islands – Singles (4AD)

Future Islands – Singles (4AD)

If you’ve seen Future Islands live at any point in the past six years or so, you might feel vaguely protective of these three arted-out synthpop weirdos who have been touring up the DIY circuit and quietly amazing people all this time. So it’s wonderfully heartening to see them step out into a huge spotlight, with a big label and slick production, writing big and catchy and moving songs but still retaining everything that was ever peculiar to them. Samuel T. Herring’s scritchety soul-howl remains one of indie rock’s most emphatic instruments, but now he’s using it to sing songs that demand to be heard from open car windows and festival stages. –Tom [LISTEN]