Future Islands: "In the Fall"

Future Islands: "In the Fall" | |
| Label: | Thrill Jockey |
| Release Date: | 2010 |
| Genre: | Indie Rock |
Guest Katrina Ford sounds great on this lead single from Future Islands' forthcoming sophomore full-length. Putting her amazing set of pipes together with Sam Herring's powerful, weird, and rather theatrical vocals feels pretty natural, but it also has the side effect of giving Herring's voice a different sort of gravity, a new approachability and earnestness. "In the Fall" is a two-ton synth ballad--a big bass-drum thump brings the track up to a slow lope, but not much more. Gerrit Welmer's production sounds like it has advanced by leaps and bounds since 2008's debut Wave Like Home; it's denser and more thoughtful. On the earlier songs, you noticed that Future Islands didn't have a drummer; the programmed percussion felt like it was trying to make up for something live. Now, Welmers sounds more comfortable making electronic songs, really hunting out the potential of a full production kit. Expect a much more mature Future Islands on this spring's record.