Islands

About

Formed by two former members of The Unicorns in 2004, Islands is a rock band from Montreal that makes upbeat indie tunes with art rock qualities. With guest appearances including members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parades, the band's 2005 debut album Return to the Sea earned immediate acclaim for its sprawling sound. For the 2009 record, Vapours, Islands front man Nick Thorburn dismantled the band on the previous effort Arm's Way in order to capture a fresh sound. The experiment proved successful, as Vapours is perhaps the most renowned of Islands' records with Thorburn's flamboyant vocal range on display over a soundscape of synthesizers and electronic drums.