Send "Future Islands " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Last September, Future Islands took four of their songs apart. The Baltimore trio was preparing to play unplugged for the first time at a local gallery, and to supplement their live set-up, they enlisted a cellist, drummer, and guitarist. The recordings of these sessions were laid down for broadcast on WYPR's "The Signal", then set to vinyl for Undressed, a limited 12" release. It's a quick but promising listen, the clear, fundamental beauty of every song's construction on full display.Future Islands' sound is built largely around electronic textures both dense and lush, as well as the stubbled vocals of Samuel Herring. Stripping the former away has made more breathing room for the latter, and the result is compelling. Herring's vocals typically bring to mind Tom Waits, but here, they're all over the map and, thankfully, still over the top. Opener "In The Fall" makes good use of every instrument available before Herring makes his entrance, his voice transitioning from reptilian hiss to growl to Antony-like flutter. And all that extra space in a song allows for Herring's grandiosely phrased stories to take even clearer shape. While none of the arrangements here do any disservice to their counterparts, a couple find a way to channel what made them good starting points. "Little Dreamer", one of Future Islands' finest and a song that's already been remixed along with the added vocals of fellow Baltimore-native Victoria Legrand of Beach House, is the best example. Originally a cavernous, drum machine-based dirge, here it becomes a snaggle-toothed lullaby. The moaning synth is gone, as is the echo, and what's left is a great deal of beauty, both lyrically and musically. Undressed would suggest Future Islands have plenty more in store....full text |
| Freshheirs.wordpress |
| n Evening Air by Future Islands is one of my most played albums of the year by far. On the back end of its release, a new fully acoustic EP has emerged, Undressed recorded at WYPR here in Baltimore (88.1 FM). Acoustic crossover albums can usually be hit-or-miss, but having seen Future Islands acoustic to highlight the opening night of Whartscape, I knew this would clearly be a hit. Songs like “An Apology” and “Long Flight” seem to have a new, bleaker appearance instrumentally, as opposed to the somewhat dancier post-wave that fills their normal tracks from their last appearances on In Evening Air. The songs are meek, desperate and, if it makes sense at all, sound like they’re about to break down in tears. “In the Fall” from their last EP sounds incredibly powerful, and is a perfect jam for the titular season it mentions. It’s darker and deeper then previous. Their debut album’s closer, and personal favorite “Little Dreamer” seems more fragile, with fragile piano chords combining with Sam’s almost frail sounding voice....full text |
| Ebo |
| This acoustic EP highlights Future Islands' compositional chops, proving why they're one of the most exciting bands to come around in years. Let's get it out of the way: Future Islands's In Evening Air might be the best record of 2010. In that record, the Baltimore-based trio created an absolutely indelible mix of New Order-style bass hooks, intricate but danceable electronics, and a masterful sense of melody and drama. Vocalist Samuel T. Herring is the clear star of the show, both on record and in the band's explosive live performances. Equipped with a ridiculous range...full text |
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