photo by Owen Ela
Synth pop trio, Future Islands, have announced their fifth full-length album is on the way and will be called The Far Field. The album will act as the band’s follow-up to 2014’s Singles is coming out April 7 via 4AD. The lead single is a bass-led synth ballad called “Ran” and can be heard below.
Following the unexpected success of the band’s 2014 album Singles, The Far Field is being touted the most anticipated release of the band’s long career. The Far Field has string and horn arrangements by Patrick McMinn and is the first Future Islands record to feature live drums from member Michael Lowry. Lowry joined the band prior to their performance of “Seasons (Waiting On You)” on Letterman. Blondie’s Debbie Harry also makes a surprise guest appearance on the track “Shadows.”
The band began writing the album last January and later performed the songs at a series of secret shows under fake names. They recorded the album with producer John Congleton in Los Angeles at Sunset Sound and according to the press release, The Far Field “brilliantly expresses the band’s central themes they’ve been exploring for the last decade: that there is power in emotional vulnerability, that one can find a way to laugh and cry in the same breath – and be stronger for it.” Sounds like something the world could use right about now.
The Far Field will be available digitally, on 180-gram white and standard black vinyl, on CD and cassette formats, and as a unique, first-of-its-kind miniature LP. Pre-order it here.
UPDATE (3/1): Future Islands have released a video for “The Far Field.” See it below:
The Far Field tracklist
01 Aladdin
02 Time on Her Side
03 Ran
04 Beauty of the Road
05 Cave
06 Through the Roses
07 North Star
08 Ancient Water
09 Candles
10 Day Glow Fire
11 Shadows
12 Black Rose
Future Islands will also be going on a pretty extensive tour this spring/summer in support of the album, including sets at Coachella, Panorama, and Bonnaroo. Find the full list of tour dates below.
Future Islands Tour Dates
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03/21: Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
04/14-16: Indio, CA – Coachella
04/21-23: Indio, CA – Coachella
04/27: Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowlands
04/28: Leeds, England – Leeds University Refectory
04/29: Liverpool, England – O2 Academy
04/30: Brighton, England – Dome
05/02: Nottingham, England – Rock City
05/03: Bristol, England – O2 Academy
05/06: Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz
05/09: Paris, France – Elysée Montmartre
05/25: Providence, RI – Lupo’s
05/26: Ithaca, NY – State Theatre
05/27: Toronto, Ontario – Danforth Music Hall
05/28: Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
05/29: Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
05/30: Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre
06/01: Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
06/02: Ponte Vedra, FL – Ponte Vedra Social Hall
06/03: Pensacola, FL – Vinyl
06/05: St. Louis, MO – Pageant
06/06: Chicago, IL – Riviera
06/07: Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre
06/09: Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
06/08-11: Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06/27: Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall
06/30: Belgium, Brussels – Rock Werchter
07/06: Dublin, Ireland – Iveagh Gardens
07/28-30: New York, NY – Panorama Festival
08/16-19: Tabuão, Portugal / Paredes de Coura Festival
08/17-20: Brecon Beacons, Wales – Green Man
