ISLANDS SIGN TO ANTI-RECORDS
UPCOMING ALBUM ARM'S WAY OUT MAY 20th SELECT PRE-RELEASE SHOWS IN MARCH TO INCLUDE SXSW
Islands have signed to Anti-Records, home to such luminaries as Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Neko Case. May 20th will see the release of the band's Arm's Way album, finding them at their most confident, creative and realized. Ten tour dates in March, including two SXSW performances, will be followed by a full U.S tour beginning in mid-April and continuing on into May, including an appearance at the festival of the year, Coachella.
"After more than a year in the frozen pipes, we are beside ourselves (three times) to be presenting what we believe to be our finest work yet, on the finest label we could think of. It's been a long time coming, and it'll be a long time before it's gone." -Nick Thorburn, Islands
Their debut Return to the Sea was heralded as a great work of maturation and emotional exploration, and Arm's Way is the natural extension of that evolution. While Return to the Sea featured guest appearances from everyone from Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade to Busdriver, Arm's Way is far more centered and focuses on the band's considerable abilities and the superb writing of singer Nick Thorburn. A sprawling symphonic work of art, the band co-produced the record with Ryan Hadlock (Blonde Redhead, Stephen Malkmus).
"Islands' singular vision makes them enormously important in today's music scene and an amazing addition to the Anti roster. We are thrilled that they will be part of what we do." -Andy Kaulkin, Anti Records president
TEASER VIDEOS FROM THE UPCOMING ARM'S WAY:
"Abominable Snow" "The Arm"
TOUR DATES IN MARCH: 9-Mar Pontiac, MI - CroFoot Theater 10-Mar Newport, KY - Southgate House 11-Mar Memphis, TN - Hi Tone 12-Mar Denton, TX - Hailey's 13-Mar Austin, TX - SXSW Anti/Utne Reader Showcase at Emo' 15-Mar Austin, TX - SXSW Mess with Texas at Waterloo Park 17-Mar Norman, OK - Opolis 18-Mar Columbia, MO - Blue Note 19-Mar St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway 20-Mar Bloomington, IN - Rhino's
EARLIER PRAISE FOR ISLANDS:
Islands are poised to turn heads this year with their brand of manic, uber-catchy pop. -PITCHFORK MEDIA
It's sprawling, ambitious pop music. -FILTER
A rollicking, whimsical sound - the songs meld radio-friendly melodies with alt-folk orchestrations and surrealist lyrics. -SPIN
In a modern day world of homogenous indie bands, it is extremely refreshing when introduced to a band that have managed to acheve some originality. -RADAR