In Evening Air

Baltimore-based Future Islands put Dan Deacon producer Chester Endersby Gwazda at the helm again for their second full-length release. The Islands’ unique sound — soul-rattling pulses of bass, unadorned, bone-smooth percussion, and keyboards possessed by both B-movie and “modern rock” hobgoblins — sets them apart from the current pack of electro-pop artists (actually, they’ve branded themselves a “post-wave” dance band). But frontman Samuel Herring is their real not-so-secret weapon, and his unnerving, over-the-top yowling puts FI a few fields left of the indie-pop center. It’s a delicious pairing, Herring’s gruff delivery of lines like “We go alone at night/to misery’s bed” and Gerrit Welmer’s refreshingly muscular keyboard subduing William Cashion’s engorged bass lines, preventing them from billowing into chaos. Chiming steel- drum tones in “Tin Man” become a menace, a jittery twinkle amid layers of gritty, fuzzed-out bass and keyboards; “Vireo’s Eye” is the spawn of an ‘80s Cure song, with its glacial synths, simmering bass and snapping drum track. *In Evening Air* is a serious year-end list contender.

Comprised of J. Gerrit Welmers (synthesizers and programming), William Cashion (bass), and Samuel T. Herring (vocals), Future Islands has continued to make passionate music through an electronic medium for the past four years. [Although, the three have been working and performing since the spring of 2003.] They call their music "Post-Wave," taking in part from the emotional fragility of New Wave and coupling it with the power and drive of Post-Punk. Future Islands' music is spearheaded by Welmers, whose layers of synths and drums create the landscape for Cashion's punching-strum style, that pulses and fights--the two--creating noise and bliss. Herring, who has been called "one of the most magnetic frontmen in indie rock," finds his space in between. Carving through the music, at times, with a whispering croon, and at others, with a deathly wail. In Evening Air marks the first full-length release from Future Islands since moving to Baltimore, and also their first full-length release as a focused three piece. However, there's no lack of spirit in this paring down. More so, there's a greater intensity and eye to detail than we have yet witnessed from the group. These changes are felt and heard. In Evening Air takes us and swirls us around those feelings of growing outside of one's city and one's self. It moves through gripping loss and the search for peace from a heavy head, with an ease and understanding where there was none. With production by Chester Endersby Gwazda, Future Islands fuses together their poetry with a dynamic musical range. Traveling from the slow burn to the highly ecstatic while holding on to the quill and not letting go. These songs are answers. They are born from fire and pain, yet are filled with light, acting as breathless testaments to love and it's consequences. But this isn't just a group of songs. This is a book of stories. From darkly quiescent and imaginative tales, to the passionate burnings of a searching heart. From the fear of being misunderstood and coming to terms with the loss of love. Future Islands speaks a language of forever and always, with an honesty that falls but never touches the ground.

Baltimore band mixes its own spin on new wave with highly charged drama courtesy of bellowing lead singer Samuel T. Herring.

Future Islands - In Evening Air review: New wave for tough guys with soft hearts.