Album Review: Future Islands, From A Hole In The Floor To A Fountain Of Youth

Celebrating 20 years together, Future Islands have gathered together 20 rarities, b-sides and limited edition, tour-only singles, half of which have never been available on streaming platforms. Standouts include the New Order-meets-Lloyd Cole of ‘Pinnochio’ and the frantic fairground rush of ‘The Happiness Of Being Twice’ – both recorded during their first full US tour in 2008 – and the uber-catchy ‘Find Love’, a 2011 b-side.

2012 single ‘Tomorrow’ is fantastic, the orchestrated synths forming a solid backdrop, for frontman Samiel Herring to go full-on soul supernova, while the Caribou-esque ‘Calliope’, from the 2018 Adult Swim Singles Program, is another highlight.

The regret-filled ‘Haunted By You’ has a stately sway, while ‘As Long As You Are’ sails by on shimmering synths. Previously unreleased demo ‘Rager’ has Herring wondering why he is so full of anger, amid tinkling ivories that are at odds with the weighty lyrics.

The closing, sepia-tinged ‘Glimpse’, with a bassline that surges into your cranium and refuses to leave, is as good as anything they’ve released elsewhere, Herring’s regretful “ever wait so long” recalling the Pixies’ ‘Here Comes Your Man’.

This collection is a whirlwind of pulsating beats, tinkling synths and earworm melodies, which is hugely enjoyable even if not totally essential, except for diehard fans of the Baltimore synth-poppers.

• Out Now.