One of the true gems in indie pop, we welcome Islands to Ramsgate on April 17th for a special, stripped-back set!
Nick Thorburn, formerly of The Unicorns, will perform as one half of a duo, emphasising and highlighting the intricacy of the songwriting and the intimacy of the vocals found in the excellent latest album…
“Islands has a lot in common with the Elephant Six bands of the 1990’s, current psych-folk groups and their fellow homemade-sounding Canadian bands Wolf Parade and the Arcade Fire. Wobbly old synthesizer tones and thin, twangy vintage guitar settings still have a certain charm” – The New York Times
Islands were borne from the ashes of the Unicorns in 2005. Releasing their first two records with London based Rough Trade Records, Islands went to release 7 more over the next 18 years, with the latest album arriving last fall.
‘And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs’ represents a big leap forward. With addictive hooks at every possible turn, Dolphins (the 9th record in the catalogue), stands out as quite likely the strongest and most articulate Islands album yet.
Nick Thorburn and band manage to slyly tap into both the pain and the joy of living, often simultaneously, while stripping the music down to its simplest element: a strange sample rubbing up against a bouncing bassline, a snappy kick and snare firing off against a persistent, hooky guitar line.
“A gorgeous collection of pop songs that draws from disparate sources such as calypso, country, and hip-hop” – Pitchfork
“What lo-fi indie-pop is supposed to be about: peppy orchestration, an unshakable melody, and surprising changes” – The AV Club
