Islands
Singer Nicholas Thorburn is the mastermind behind Montreal-based band Islands. With an ever changing set up - and consequently a long list of ex-members - Thorburn is the only constant and driving force behind this Indie-Art-Rock-band, which has released four albums since 2005. The same anti-label that is responsible for Tom Waits’ records released their recent album “A Sleep & A Forgetting”. Stylistically, Island surprise with a great variety; some of their songs are inspired by Dancehall and Calypso others show traces of T.Rex. Islands don’t just perform their own songs, cover tracks like “Graceland” by Paul Simon, The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset“ or “I Won’t Share You” by The Smiths are also in their repertoire. According to Thorburn, “A Sleep & A Forgetting” is their most personal record to date. After the end of a relationship in New York, he ran off to the opposite side of North America to write down all his negative experiences. But don’t get this wrong, the record doesn’t sound whimsy at all - it’s a wink instead of a teary eye.
