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On the Water
Pop · 2011 · 11 tracks

On the Water

Future Islands

A patient, coastal synth-pop record defined by melodic bass, field recordings of the North Carolina shore, and a heavy sense of existential longing.

October 11, 2011 · Thrill Jockey

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A patient, salt-sprayed meditation on memory and the quiet passage of time.

Tracklist · 11 Tracks
01
On the Water
4:52
02
Before the Bridge
3:59
03
The Great Fire
3:15
04
Open
1:28
05
Where I Found You
5:44
06
Give Us the Wind
4:06
07
Close to None
6:19
08
Balance
4:06
09
Tybee Island
3:17
10
Grease
4:35
11
[unknown]
0:54
Moments Worth Listening For
The transition from the ambient field recordings of the title track into the driving, melodic bass hook of Before the Bridge.
Jenn Wasner's ethereal guest vocals on The Great Fire providing a haunting counterpoint to Samuel T. Herring's gravelly baritone.
The way the percussion finally locks in on Balance, turning a moment of doubt into a rhythmic mantra.
Reviews
AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does On the Water sound next to the rest of Future Islands's catalogue?

Ocean+2.0σ

Ocean saturates this record notably more than the artist's norm.

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