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Islands are an Indie Rock band based in Montreal , Quebec Canada. Their music typically involves dancehall beats and an emotionally deep sounding experience. There are occasional Calypso beats. They currently record for Equator Records. HISTORY Islands was formed in Canada in early 2005 , by Nicholas Thorburn - formerly known as Nick Diamonds - and J'aime Tambeur ( Jamie Thompson ), although the latter has since left the band. The Islands lineup is constantly in flux, changing to meet the needs of the recording and live environment. The current lineup includes Thorburn on Guitar , Keyboard , and Vocals , Patrice Agbokou on Bass , Patrick Gregoire on Bass Clarinet , Guitar , and occasionally Banjo , Alex Chow on Violin , Viola , Keyboard , and various percussive instruments, Sebastian Chow on Violin , Keyboard , Shaker , and various other instruments, and Aaron Harris on Drums and Percussion . Former touring members included Guitarist and Backing Vocalist Jim Guthrie , Kate Perkins on Violin , Backup Vocals , and Shaker , J'aime, and lap-steel guitarist Michael Feuerstack . Although the two founding members of Islands (Nick and Jamie) were members of The Unicorns , whose album '' Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? '' made Pitchfork Media 's top 50 albums of 2003 list, Islands is a completely new and independent project. This, in contrast to Th' Corn Gangg , which began as a direct off-shoot project of The Unicorns several months prior to their December 2004 break-up. Th' Corn Gangg was involved with several projects with Subtitle and Busdriver , releasing two mp3s, playing several shows, and remixing songs such as the North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative 's single, "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?", but never recorded an album. Islands' first live performances was opening for Beck at the 2005 Pop Montreal Music Festival . In late October of 2005 Islands went on a short tour with Beck on the west coast of the USA . The band finished a European tour in mid August followed by a U.S. and Canadian tour from September 27th to October 22nd of 2006. ''RETURN TO THE SEA'' In mid-2005 Islands recorded a debut album titled '' Return To The Sea '', which was released in April of 2006. The album was recorded in Montreal, Canada , at Breakglass Studio and in Jamie's bedroom, and was produced by Audio Engineer / Record Producer Mark Lawson . ''Return to the Sea'' was re-mastered in England for the Europe an version of the album, and was released there by Rough Trade Records on April 3 , 2006 . In North America , the album was released on the upstart label Equator Records on April 4 , 2006 . The cover of the album is one of Caspar David Friedrich 's famous paintings, ''Sea of Ice''. The album features numerous guest appearances, including members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade . Two songs, "Flesh" and "Abominable Snow", were released to the public through The Simple Mission in June of 2005, though neither appeared on the debut album. "Abominable Snow" had begun life as a song played live by The Unicorns prior to their breakup, albeit under the title of "Abominable Snowman". ''Return to the Sea'' has been described by Nick as having "some ... More of a Neil Young / Brian Wilson vibe running through it." {Link without Title} The band played various shows around the US and Canada throughout mid-late 2005 , followed by an opening slot for Metric on their early 2006 tour. After ''Return to the Sea'' was released in April 2006 , the band embarked on their first full headlining tour, playing small clubs around the US and Canada throughout May. They were joined by Cadence Weapon and Why? on the first half of the tour, and Cadence Weapon and Busdriver on the second. The band generally received critical acclaim for their live shows, which sometimes ended with the band leading the audience out of the venue " Pied Piper style" and onto the surrounding streets. JAMIE THOMPSON'S DEPARTURE/EUROPEAN TOUR On May 28th, 2006, it was announced that Thompson would be leaving the band. He stated, "I'm just not sure that being in a successful band is all that important to me anymore. I'm not leaving because of any problems with people in the band. It's very hard to do this, Nick and I have been creating together for quite a long time now... our relationship, both creative and personal is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life." Of Islands' future he said, "I think Islands is one of the best, if not the best band out there these days, and I have every confidence that they will do incredibly well." This quote was displayed on the band's website for only a short time, and was mysteriously taken down. Islands decided to continue on without Thompson, and a European tour was scheduled, and further recordings confirmed. Diamonds commented upon Thompson's departure, saying "Jamie has left Islands, but the band waltzes on! We wish Jamie the best in his new life. Islands are forever." {Link without Title} The band stayed relatively quiet in early and mid June following Jamie's departure from the band. However, in late June, with the European tour just weeks away, the band made two surprise appearances in Montreal, performing with a strikingly new lineup featuring new Drummer Aaron Harris and new Vocalist / Violinist / Percussionist Kate Perkins. Former touring Guitarist Jim Guthrie was also noticeably absent from the band's roster. The band departed for Europe the following week. THE FUTURE OF ISLANDS Islands are currently on tour, this time visiting Iceland as well as the United States and Canada. They have premiered three new songs: The Arm, Kids, and We hfrtrSwim. They have also played covers of The Kinks ' " Waterloo Sunset " and Bobby 'Boris' Pickett 's " Monster Mash ." Members of the band have said that the next album will be 'heavier,' saying that Nick had been listening to a lot of T-Rex . Nick said in an interview that the song "I Feel Evil (Creepin' In)" will be on the album. In a recent Pitchfork Interview , Diamonds talked about future recording. "Yeah, we're thinking January or February. I've got high hopes for a producer...This guy Jeff Lynne . He was in ELO and the Traveling Wilburys. He also did a George Harrison song that's one of my favorites, "Got My Mind Set on You". It's got the most amazing production. He gets such great sounds and vocals. Just the sound of the guitar and the drums is a perfect pop sound. I really want this record to be a good, good pop record." Diamonds later said that he was reconsidering this choice. As well, on January 6th, 2007, Diamonds posted on the band's website {Link without Title} that he and the band would enter the studio and begin recording a new album in February. He stated that the album was already being planned out and specifically that the tracklist and title was picked out. Additionally, he said that he was dropping the "Diamonds" from his name and that he would be using his original name Nick T. from then on. DISCOGRAPHY Albums |
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