Island Of Love. Island Of Love

Multiple guitars ring out. A big bass supports them and the drums bang away. It all sounds very familiar and instantly likeable. Islands Of Love taps into music coming at least from thirty years ago without moving into the heaviest grunge type music of Smashing Pumpkins. The album rocks no little and adds the melodies of the Britpop era. A nice combination.

Island Of Love is a band from the U.K., London more specifically and the first band signed to the London subsidiary of Third Man Records, of Jack White fame. It tells you something when a band is the first one to be signed. If you ask me, it's a miracle it was still walking around free. Having worked DIY so far, this step is a huge jump for the band.

The band is a trio, Karim Newble on guitars/vocals, Linus Munch on guitars/vocals and Daniel Giraldo on bass. So who is that huge drummer, or is it AI or programmed? If so, it sounds very convincing.

Where the music is concerned, I can keep it fairly short. All you need to know is that Island Of Love rocks. It never holds back a lot. Yes, there is some dabbling with dynamics but for the rest the band goes all out and keeps going. Expect some Dinosaur Jr., like in 'Grow', but also the grunge that came after. It all keeps the band decades away from today, yet fitting in nicely with a lot of bands with guitars of today. Think Personal Trainer here in NL. You will find a little variation in music styles as well. Trotting of the beaten path as it were.

Promo Photo

Island Of Love fits in with a lot of the alternative rock bands churning out records in the 20s. Where it does not fit in with, is the postpunk batch of weird riffs and semi-spoken lyrics. This band rocks, although there is a semi-drunken pub brawl called 'Sweet Loaf', where things appear a little out of hand. When the song finally gets going, Lou Reed comes around like in his 'Street Hassle' and 'The Bells' period.

The clock goes back to rock with 'I've Got The Secret' where the band goes into overdrive and as close to punkrock as it gets. As I wrote above, there is a hint at Britpop but for a U.K. band, it is the U.S. that wins out out here. Fans of alternative rock from that country can start slowly walking to the record store. Thick riffs, heavy solo's and dark rhythm guitars are all over the place. As close to the real thing a new band can come, according to my two cents. The cover is another story. Toy Dolls inspired? Let me stop there.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Island Of Love here:

https://islandoflove.bandcamp.com/album/island-of-love