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Islands
Background information
Origin	Montreal, Quebec Canada
Genre(s)	Indie rock, Indie pop
Years active	2005 – present
Label(s)	Equator Records Rough Trade Records

Islands are an indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec, who currently record for Equator Records.

Islands mixing debut album "Return to the Sea" in Jamie's bedroom. Left to Right: Sarah Neufeld (violin, Arcade Fire), Nick Diamonds (Islands), Mark Lawson (audio engineer), Richard Parry (upright bass, Arcade Fire), Jamie Thompson (Islands), Becky Foon (cello, A Silver Mt. Zion and Esmerine).

In mid-2005 Islands recorded a debut album titled Return to the Sea, which was released in April of 2006. The album was recorded in Montreal, Canada, at Breakglass Studio and in Jamie's bedroom, and was produced by audio engineer/record producer Mark Lawson.

Return to the Sea was re-mastered in England for the European version of the album, and was released there by Rough Trade Records on April 3, 2006. In North America, the album was released on the upstart label Equator Records on April 4, 2006. The cover of the album is one of Caspar David Friedrich's famous paintings, Sea of Ice.

The album features numerous guest appearances, including members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. Two songs, "Flesh" and "Abominable Snow", were released to the public through The Simple Mission in June of 2005, though neither appeared on the debut album. "Abominable Snow" had begun life as a song played live by the Unicorns prior to their breakup, albeit under the title of "Abominable Snowman".

Return to the Sea has been described by Nick as having "some dancehall influences, some calypso... It's more diverse and sprawling and ambitious" [1], and is "A bit more mature than The Unicorns... More of a Neil Young / Brian Wilson vibe running through it." [2]

The band played various shows around the US and Canada throughout mid-late 2005, followed by an opening slot for Metric on their early 2006 tour. After Return to the Sea was released in April 2006, the band embarked on their first full headlining tour, playing small clubs around the US and Canada throughout May. They were joined by Cadence Weapon and Why? on the first half of the tour, and Cadence Weapon and Busdriver on the second. The band generally received critical acclaim for their live shows, which sometimes ended with the band leading the audience out of the venue "pied piper style" and onto the surrounding streets.

On May 28th, 2006, it was announced that Thompson would be leaving the band. He stated, "I'm just not sure that being in a successful band is all that important to me anymore. I'm not leaving because of any problems with people in the band. It's very hard to do this, Nick and I have been creating together for quite a long time now... our relationship, both creative and personal is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life." Of Islands' future he said, "I think Islands is one of the best, if not the best band out there these days, and I have every confidence that they will do incredibly well." This quote was displayed on the band's website for only a short time, and was mysteriously taken down. Islands decided to continue on without Thompson, and a European tour was scheduled, and further recordings confirmed.

Diamonds commented upon Thompson's departure, saying "Jamie has left Islands, but the band waltzes on! We wish Jamie the best in his new life. Islands are forever."[3]

The band stayed relatively quiet in early and mid June following Jamie's departure from the band. However, in late June, with the European tour just weeks away, the band made two surprise appearances in Montreal, performing with a strikingly new lineup featuring new drummer Aaron Harris and new vocalist/violinist/percussionist Kate Perkins. Former touring guitarist Jim Guthrie was also noticeably absent from the band's roster.

The band departed for Europe the following week.

Islands are currently on tour, this time visiting Iceland as well as the United States and Canada. They have premiered three new songs: The Arm, Kids, and We Swim. They have also played covers of the Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset" and Bobby 'Boris' Pickett's "Monster Mash." Members of the band have said that the next album will be 'heavier,' saying that Nick had been listening to a lot of T-Rex. Nick said in an interview that the song "I Feel Evil (Creepin' In)" will be on the album.

In a recent Pitchfork Interview, Diamonds talked about future recording. "Yeah, we're thinking January or February. I've got high hopes for a producer...This guy Jeff Lynne. He was in ELO and the Traveling Wilburys. He also did a George Harrison song that's one of my favorites, "Got My Mind Set on You". It's got the most amazing production. He gets such great sounds and vocals. Just the sound of the guitar and the drums is a perfect pop sound. I really want this record to be a good, good pop record." Diamonds later said that he was reconsidering this choice.

As well, on January 6th, 2007, Diamonds posted on the band's website [4] that he and the band would enter the studio and begin recording a new album in February. He stated that the album was already being planned out and specifically that the tracklist and title was picked out. Additionally, he said that he was dropping the "Diamonds" from his name and that he would be using his original name Nick T. from then on.

According to an article posted on Pitchfork Media, The Islands new album is being mixed by Rob Schnapf in Los Angeles.

Return to the Sea April 4, 2006 Equator Records

• "Rough Gem"(Directed by Nick Thorburn (Diamonds))
• "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" (Directed by Ben Jones of Paperrad)

• Qué Onda Guero (Beck Remix on Guerolito)
• Do They Know It's Hallowe'en? (North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative)

• "I Feel Evil (Creepin' In)"
• "Come Into My Room"
• "I'm Not Crazy (But I Think I'm Going Crazy)"
• "Abominable Snow"
• "We Love Giving In"
• "Be Someone Else"
• "Dogs"
• "Life In Jail"
• "Tender Torture"
• "J'aime Vous Quittez"
• "Pieces Of You"
• "We Swim"
• "The Arm"
• "Kids"
• "Cyanide Breath Mint" (Beck Cover)
• "Hurry Up, Run" (Th' Corn Gangg Cover)
• "Graceland" (Paul Simon cover)
• "Waterloo Sunset" (Kinks cover)
• "Monster Mash" (Bobby 'Boris' Pickett cover)
• "Joy"

• Islands Official Website
• Islands Myspace Page
• Pitchfork Media news article
• Secret Unicorns Forum Post break-up information of all The Unicorns related projects
• Album review
• 49music, fansite
• Interview from HateSomethingBeautiful
• Live Photos From Berlin, August 2006
• Interview with Alex Chow from MusicSucks