Nicholas Thorburn’s Montreal-based indie band Islands have created something truly special in their latest album, “Vapours.” The third album Thorburn (aka Nick Diamonds) and company have released since their jaw-dropping 2005 debut “Return to the Sea,” “Vapours” lifts the band to new heights in their already growing popularity and successes.
Where “Return to the Sea” was more of a fun, quirky, and extremely catchy electro-pop album and 2008s “Arm’s Way” was a much darker (albeit still catchy) effort, “Vapours” is still a different take on the band’s sound: a much more guitar-driven effort replete with, subtly driving drums (both programmed and live), and sugary sweet keyboards and synths.
Despite this general, overarching take on the music, the album contains several complete surprises, most notably the heavily auto-tuned “Heartbeat” which sounds like T-Pain got a hold of the track before the album’s pressing. Spin Magazine nearly perfectly describes the song as something like “what Kanye (West) imagines when he listens to Vampire Weekend.” After several listens, though it may be hard to decide whether to love or hate the piece, it still strikes you as interestingly unique. Whether you love it or hate it, musically, it is one of the highlights of the album.
While no other track sticks out so evidently as “Heartbeat,” Islands have still pulled off something of a feat in the eclectic collection of songs. The songs all seem to come together very effectively and fluidly, but at the same time they contain unique twists that define each track as distinctly separate. “Disarming the Car Bomb,” is a subdued but raw rock track that channels Coconut Records while the titular “Vapours” incorporates horns and sax over pleasing guitars, light keys, and Diamonds’ unmistakable vocals. “The Drums” and “No You Don’t” embrace a style similar to Ratatat, with overbearing keyboards and hip-hop beats that get the listener moving, while at the other end of the spectrum is the breezy, smooth, tropically influenced “On Foreigner" which contains a reggae vibe.
The best songs on the album, however, are the tracks that most closely stick to Island’s earlier, quirky, more keyboard heavy style. With a chorus reminiscent of the band’s hit song, “Rough Gem” (off their debut album), “EOL,” joins “Tender Torture,” and “Switched On,” as the most shining gems on the album.
Both fans and nonfans are sure to get something out of Islands’ new album. Whether you are listening to the band for the first time or are enjoying Islands’ triumphant new release, “Vapours” is sure to lift your spirits while pushing the band to new heights.
