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Future Islands: On the Water

John Calvert, The Quietus, 26 October 2011

THE SOUNDS of a lonely dock, St Elizabeth, North Carolina. It's the sound of lapping saltwater and mooring cables knocking steadily against wet wood. Slowly, out of this peaceful conversation emerges Future Islands' On The Water, the story of a failed relationship, the ghost-ship it became, a shipwrecked soul, the mermaid he lost, and not least, a tiny cult band coming into their own, on a record about the dark waters of love's sunken past. In case of cynicism break glass for Future Islands, romantics to their very last barnacle. Romantic like 'True Love Ways', like chivalry in old black and white movies, like your mum and dad on a bandstand, in 50s Maine, falling in love.

Total word count of piece: 836

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