Future Islands deliver new album teaser ‘Say Goodbye’
American synth-pop leaders Future Islands are racing towards the release of their seventh album, People Who Aren’t There, on January 26th, 2024. Delivering the latest teaser, ‘Say Goodbye’ provides another insight into the record.
With all the signature synth licks the world has come to expect from the band, this new track is much of the same. 1980s electronic details punctate every string of simple lyricism, giving it just enough flare to hook listeners in.
As an examination of a long-distance relationship with all its various strains and struggles, the lyricism is surprisingly unemotional. The chorus sings almost clinically constructed, “When I don’t wanna say goodnight / And every day without you feels one closer to goodbye / I just need to make this world seem right / You just sleep tight, til I’m on your side.”
The indie sleaze soundscape doesn’t help bolster the emotive aim of the lyrics either. The kitsch nature of the glossy pop backing is entirely its appeal. It is light and danceable, meant to soundtrack not much else beyond nights out, early-door romances and bad outfits. Yet seven albums on, ‘Say Goodbye’ feels slightly stale, searching for a depth that is non-existent on this occasion.
Samuel T. Herring’s vocal sits high on the mix amidst instrumentation that’s sparser than the early maximalism glory of tracks like ‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’ or ‘Balance’. For listeners who love his unique vocal stylings, this track satisfies. But as the second chorus kicks in, it all starts to feel too bellowing and declarative, sounding more like an AI unemotionally reading a monologue on missing someone. All the while, the crowded nature of the verses and the sparse background create an oddly messy sound. There are simply too many words for the bars to handle.
Even in moments where the music starts to get hips swaying or toes tapping, there is something about Herring’s vocals that feel too heavy, like an anchor. It seems like no amount of fun synth details or catchy drum rhythms can get around his bulky vocal line. By the second “Oh why, oh why?”, things grow tedious.
However, in the other teasers of their upcoming album, the band’s brilliance has been apparent, so perhaps this is simply one single too many. ‘The Tower’ stands out as a return to their early glory as the entire band plays to the best and biggest of their abilities, regularly swelling to dizzying heights and then stopping for effective moments of quiet. ‘The Fight’ also feels like the better, older brother of ‘Say Goodbye’ as Herring’s voice once again holds the spotlight but in a more emotive performance.
There’s definitely merit coming on the seventh album, but ‘Say Goodbye’ is not a highlight.
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