Over the course of two albums Montreal's Islands have defied labeling. That doesn't change with the band's third full length Vapours (out this week). Under the guidance of mastermind Nick Diamond, the band deliver another package of pop songs dressed up in electronics.
Diamond and company again run the gamut with Vapours. There are plenty of electronically based songs such as "Tender Torture" and "No You Don't". The centrepiece of these is the techno pop-inspired "Devout". The closer "Everything Is Under Control" transports us into a spacey future time. Living up to their moniker, there are a handful of tracks, like "On Foreigner" and "Heartbeat" that boast a breezy island feel.
Islands show us their darker side as well. "Shining" may be the group's most sinister song to date.
Pop songwriting is the true backbone of the record however. The chipper "Switched On", the horn-enhanced title track, and the slight doo-wop of "Disarming the Car Bomb" are a testament to this.
Vapours is a strange album for a reason beyond simply the eccentric music. During my first time through the record I thought it was brilliant. With subsequent listens however, each song became a little less compelling or a little less vibrant. In my experience it's unusual for an album to fade so quickly.
Best tracks: "Disarming the Car Bomb", "Switched On"
Track listing for Vapours:
- Switched On
- No You Don't
- Vapours
- Devout
- Disarming the Car Bomb
- Tender Torture
- Shining
- On Foreigner
- Heartbeat
- The Drums
- EOL
- Everything Is Under Control
7.0/10
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