London’s ISLAND returns with the announcement of their highly anticipated new album Yesterday Park. Yesterday Park will be released onJune 25 via Frenchkiss Records. Alongside the news, ISLAND have also shared a new single called “Do You Remember The Times.” The track – which is already seeing support from BBC 1’s Annie Mac – sees the band continue to step away from some of their old approaches, bringing in new ideas and exploring more intricate dynamics and instrumentation. When speaking about the musical inspiration behind their new material, the band state that they drew a lot of influence from the 90s – particularly beat-driven 90s hip-hop. That is exemplified in the single’s energetic and groove-heavy rhythm section. Combined with the band’s ever expansive and highly atmospheric guitar lines and ruminative yet anthemic vocals, the new track sees the band further lean into a theme of nostalgia that is at once poignant and sanguine. Speaking about “Do You Remember The Times” and the LP, the band shared, “It’s about how memories exist in our minds in total harmony, and the way those memories feel from the point of view of the present. Memories of being young and carefree become more and more distant as we grow, but also more rose-tinted. Exploring that feeling is pretty much the central theme of the whole album, so it felt like the right time to put this track out there.”
Pre-order Yesterday Park here. Today ISLAND also announced a short run of UK tour dates for October 2021 – the dates are listed below. Tickets are pre-sale now via the band’s website and will go on general sale this Friday at 12pm BST.
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of their recent critically acclaimed singles “My Brother“, “Everyone’s The Same” and “Octopus.”
Yesterday Parkwas recorded in semi-locked-down London last summer withMikko Gordon (Thom Yorke), their first time working with an outside producer. The result showcases the band experimenting with more complex production as they introduce new textures and recording techniques to expand and further hone in on a sound that has always been unique to ISLAND.
From the dulcet and cyclical album opener “Octopus,” to the raw and direct slacker-rock anthem “Everyone’s The Same,” right through to the wistful, downtempo slow jam “My Brother,” the contrast across the the band’s new material perfectly highlights their unique dynamic range and risk taking in their new songwriting process.
Yesterday Park is the uninhibited sound of a band who’ve already achieved so much, who are now taking another big leap forward both musically and personally. While its’ subject matter might be looking back to the pastISLAND‘s new LP is a statement of intent that will find many looking forward to what is yet to come.
