I DON'T BELIEVE ANYMORE

THE FAR FIELD die hard white vinyl review

   THE FAR FIELD doesn't even get officially released until tomorrow. I received the limited white die hard vinyl and its requisite T-shirt with the album cover image upon it yesterday. It couldn't have arrived at a better time. 4AD have birthed another mythic band with FUTURE ISLANDS and there is zero doubt THE FAR FIELD remains the apotheosis of their form. I think it represents the band at the pinnacle of their talents. From the absolute knock out of the opening track Aladdin right on through the stunning duet with Deborah Harry and all the way through to its twisted glorious ending, THE FAR FIELD expands and grows in the listener's heart like a dark private forest to get perpetually lost in. I don't think the world's seen a band like this since the 80s, myself; and I certainly don't flinch when believing they deserve the honor of following in New Order's wake. Gerrit Welmers' shimmering keyboards provide the oceanic mindscape both supporting and carried by William Cashion's steadily relentless basslines, which never fail to keep their ship of dreams on a propulsive voyage through the crumbling fields of romance. Opinions dissolve away in the wake of songs like Shadows, the duet with Debbie Harry, as those of us bound for glory under its spell already know so well. Theirs is an altogether familiar sailboat beckoning all who would step onto its decks to leave their baggage ashore and dare to surrender to this rite of passage. I find it extremely difficult to suppose their music isn't for everyone. In jest, where it goes, nobody sees but me. So perfect, and so sweet. On these roads, there's a sweeping majesty cultivated with I dare say a degree of expertise which frontman Samuel T. Herring exhibits with ease. His commanding presence may be seen as cheesy by those gawking from the sidelines, but believe me when I tell you I think of him as the new age embodiment of John Lennon and Tom Jones, or something. That's just my silly way of saying this band doesn't just rest easily on the shoulders of giants; they stand tall and free with their feet planted firmly on the same ground as the most legendary bands that ever existed. Sure there's a hell of a lot of trees shrouding our view in this murky forest of popular music on the airwaves, but you must either be deaf or already dead inside if you can't let yourself go on this ride. 

   After flipping the record over and listening avidly to side 2, I dowloaded the digital version to my nano and familiarized myself with these gorgeous songs and sentiments expressed with playful savagery by the poet laureate of synthpop, their loveable captain, Mr. Herring. After standing back from subjecting myself to their sonic attack since discovering the early albums and collecting them all on vinyl (with the singular exception of their debut, 2008's Wave Like Home, an extremely rare item in the LP format) I have to say my love for them has grown to the point of obsession. You can count me among the fans who discovered them on David Letterman. It feels wonderful to actually have a current band breaking through into the mainstream so close to my heart in 2017. A huge and hearty shout-out of gratitude goes out to Sam, Bill, and Mike. Whenever the cumulative pressures of this sickened political age threaten to crush my ribcage and flatten out my lifeline to near total despair, all I have to do is put on any Future Islands album and their soaring, healing music washes over my broken soul like a balm of fresh tropical air. I will always love this band and their music. They keep me anchored and steady on my feet even as they lift my spirits into orbit around this jewel like planet suspended in outer space. Looking down on the serenity of our dreaming world I can appreciate the extremes which keep it all in balance. And I can't help but think (and thank) Future Islands while they continue to help guide me forward through the harrowing storm. As of this writing about the only songs you'll be able to listen to from THE FAR FIELD (unless you preordered the album) are the debut single "Far," and its followup, "Cave." Wait'll you all get a load of the rest of the tracks on this superb album, in particular the FUTURE ISLANDS + BLONDIE hybrid, a truly outstanding song for this turbulent time in our lives. Consider me addicted. 

RAN