Bleep

People change, but some bands never do. In the case of Future Islands, they have come back with twelve chest-swelling synth pop ditties that anyone who came for the funny Letterman performance and stayed for the classy songwriting will find most pleasing. A meaty streak of Born in the USA-era Springsteen cuts through singles like ‘Ran’ and ‘Cave’ as well as obvious nods to Depeche Mode and other 80s synth-pop greats. The addition of a live drummer (Michael Lowry, who initially joined the band for that now-legendary ‘Seasons’ performance) brings a groove and swing that the band has sometimes previously lacked, and one is pleasantly surprised to find Debbie Harry guesting on ‘Shadows’.