Over the past twenty years, Future Islands have travelled a rare arc, from promising newcomers to best-kept secret, from cult favorites to heroes of the genre. As they reach this remarkable milestone, they resist the obvious move.
Instead of a ‘best-of’ compilation victory lap, Future Islands present “From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth” – an immediate and accessible collection – half of which has never appeared on streaming services – comprising alternate hits, rarities, and fan favourites that showcase the band’s palette and bring further colour to their uniquely universal appeal.
As the title suggests, this double-LP traces the group’s journey from humble origins toward ever-widening horizons. Twenty songs for twenty years, four members of the band, four sides of vinyl. Future Islands have always been more than a viral moment; their career contains extraordinary depth and nuance, often overshadowed by louder peaks. These songs reveal a band comfortable with subtlety, grace, and emotional endurance – and they have never sounded more eternal.
Future Islands can wow and dazzle, but this release is about something else, something understated and more profound. “This is for everyone who has carried these songs with them, from the first house parties to the rooms we’re playing today,” explains Cashion.
The songs were first gathered into a playlist by bass lynchpin William Cashion, who also chose the title – “I’ve always loved the imagery of that lyric,” he makes clear, “The hole in the floor is the everyday, but the fountain is the magic that happens when the life you dreamed about actually becomes the one you’re living. It’s the dream and the reality existing in the same room.” A well-known Tennessee Williams quote talks of this kind of duration – “time is the longest distance between two places.” It is time that really separates the floor from the fountain.
Future Islands celebrate 20 years with ‘From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth’, the new album out May 22nd.
The Fat Angel Sings 