Islands
Biography
Islands emerged from the ashes of The Unicorns like a phoenix with a penchant for baroque pop arrangements and existential musings, proving that sometimes the most beautiful music springs from creative destruction. When The Unicorns imploded in spectacular fashion during their 2004 tour, leaving behind only the cult classic "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?" and a trail of bewildered fans, Nick Thorburn could have easily retreated into obscurity. Instead, he channeled his restless creative energy into something altogether more ambitious and emotionally complex.
The genesis of Islands began in Montreal's fertile indie scene, where Thorburn had already established himself as a mercurial talent capable of crafting songs that were simultaneously whimsical and deeply melancholic. Recruiting drummer Jaime Thompson, his former Unicorns bandmate, along with a rotating cast of musicians that would eventually include members of Wolf Parade and Arcade Fire, Thorburn set about creating music that pushed far beyond the lo-fi constraints of his previous incarnation.
Islands' 2006 debut "Return to the Sea" announced the arrival of a fully-formed artistic vision that married chamber pop orchestration with indie rock sensibilities and Thorburn's increasingly sophisticated songwriting. The album's epic opener "Swans (Life After Death)" served as both a mission statement and a masterpiece, its nine-minute runtime encompassing everything from delicate acoustic passages to soaring orchestral crescendos. Here was a band unafraid to embrace grandiosity while maintaining an intimate emotional core.
The album's success established Islands as darlings of the mid-2000s indie scene, with critics praising Thorburn's ability to balance accessibility with artistic ambition. Songs like "Rough Gem" and "Humans" showcased a band comfortable moving between tender ballads and anthemic rockers, often within the same composition. The lush arrangements, featuring everything from strings and horns to unconventional percussion, created a sonic palette that felt both timeless and thoroughly modern.
2008's "Arm's Way" saw the band refining their approach, delivering a more cohesive and focused effort that demonstrated remarkable growth in just two years. The album's exploration of themes ranging from mortality to modern alienation was wrapped in some of Thorburn's most memorable melodies, with tracks like "The Drums" and "Pieces of You" becoming instant classics among the indie cognoscenti. The record's critical acclaim solidified Islands' reputation as one of the most consistently innovative acts in independent music.
As the band evolved through subsequent releases like "Vapours" (2009) and "A Sleep & a Forgetting" (2012), Thorburn's vision became increasingly personal and introspective. The lineup continued to shift and change, with Islands essentially becoming Thorburn's creative vehicle, though he consistently attracted talented collaborators drawn to his unique artistic perspective. This fluid approach allowed the band to explore different sonic territories while maintaining their core identity.
The 2016 release "Should I Remain Here at Sea?" marked something of a creative renaissance, with Thorburn stripping back some of the orchestral complexity in favor of more direct, emotionally immediate songs. The album's exploration of themes around home, belonging, and artistic purpose resonated with longtime fans while attracting new listeners drawn to the band's evolved sound.
Throughout their career, Islands have maintained a cult following that appreciates Thorburn's refusal to repeat himself or pander to commercial expectations. His willingness to follow his artistic instincts, regardless of market considerations, has resulted in a discography that feels remarkably coherent despite its stylistic diversity. The band's influence can be heard in the work of countless indie acts who've adopted their approach to blending intimate songwriting with ambitious arrangements.
Recent years have seen Thorburn continuing to evolve the Islands sound while remaining true to the project's core values of emotional honesty and musical adventurousness. Albums like "Islomania" (2021) have demonstrated that his creative well remains far from dry, with new songs that manage to feel both fresh and unmistakably part of the Islands canon.
Islands' legacy lies not in chart positions or mainstream recognition, but in their consistent ability to create music that rewards deep listening and emotional investment. In an era of shortened attention spans and algorithmic playlists, Thorburn has maintained his commitment to crafting complete artistic statements that unfold their secrets gradually. For those willing to dive beneath the surface, Islands offer some of the most rewarding music of the past two decades.
