Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands

Future Islands' romantic synth sound scales new heights with On the Water, the Baltimore trio's most ambitious and fully realized statement yet. Built around a song cycle exploring love, loss, and memory, their latest album finds the band continuing to deliver pounding rhythms, swelling melodies, and undeniable hooks - but finding new ways to probe inner space and tug at hearts. Convening in March 2011 in Elizabeth City, NC's historic, waterfront Andrew S. Sanders House, vocalist Samuel T. Herring, bassist William Cashion, and keyboardist Gerrit Welmers lived together in a space that served as both studio and sleeping quarters. The band used this tranquil retreat to refine their most reflective and mature batch of songs to date, adding new material in the process. What emerged is a lush yet visceral album about two parallel journeys—one physical and one psychological. On the Water's narrator offers enough detail that their story feels personal, yet open enough that any listener can inhabit each twist and emotional pang as their own.

Future Islands

On The Water

Thrill Jockey
Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands
LP +

$29.99

Indie Exclusive

Clear w Blue/Orange/Pink

Includes download code
Released 09/10/2021Catalog Number

LP-THRILL-285Y

Learn more
Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands
LP +

$29.99

Clear With Pink

Includes download code
Released 01/08/2021Catalog Number

LP-THRILL-285C

Learn more
Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands
LP

$29.99

LP

Released 04/04/2012Catalog Number

LP-THRILL-285

Learn more
Future Islands

On The Water

Thrill Jockey
Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands
LP +

$29.99

Indie Exclusive

Clear w Blue/Orange/Pink

Includes download code
Released 09/10/2021Catalog Number

LP-THRILL-285Y

Learn more
Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands
LP +

$29.99

Clear With Pink

Includes download code
Released 01/08/2021Catalog Number

LP-THRILL-285C

Learn more
Album artwork for On The Water by Future Islands
LP

$29.99

LP

Released 04/04/2012Catalog Number

LP-THRILL-285

Learn more

Future Islands' romantic synth sound scales new heights with On the Water, the Baltimore trio's most ambitious and fully realized statement yet. Built around a song cycle exploring love, loss, and memory, their latest album finds the band continuing to deliver pounding rhythms, swelling melodies, and undeniable hooks - but finding new ways to probe inner space and tug at hearts. Convening in March 2011 in Elizabeth City, NC's historic, waterfront Andrew S. Sanders House, vocalist Samuel T. Herring, bassist William Cashion, and keyboardist Gerrit Welmers lived together in a space that served as both studio and sleeping quarters. The band used this tranquil retreat to refine their most reflective and mature batch of songs to date, adding new material in the process. What emerged is a lush yet visceral album about two parallel journeys—one physical and one psychological. On the Water's narrator offers enough detail that their story feels personal, yet open enough that any listener can inhabit each twist and emotional pang as their own.