Remote Islands is Colin Pete and a crew from Philadelphia who together play 24 different instruments. In fact, here’s a listing of every instrument they use: ON banjo, electric, acoustic, bass, and pedal steel guitars, mandolin, upright bass // drum set, hand percussion // Wurlitzer electric piano, casio MT-100, accordian, silvertone organ, Nord electro, Yamaha strings // computer, Boss DR-5 Dr. Rhythm // vocals // viola, cello // saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and flute. After getting together and collaborating on “Days of Heaven,” their first release, they gave what Stunned said was the “best unsolicited demo the label has received in three years of operation.” That’s quite a statement, which is only made because this is quite a tape. It pulls together all the greatness of rock and pop music, both past and present, to create a new future for music. On their Bandcamp page, they tagged themselves as art rock, experimental, folk, indie rock, krautrock, orchestral pop, and soul. I don’t know if that helps, but those are all the genres that they call upon to define themselves.
Personally, and I don’t know if it’s just the band name, but I see this as being a little island-y. I mean, the whole feel makes me think of what I would like to hear on a cruise line or would play while I’m on some boat tour. I keep having the image of some barnacled band full of good vibes and energy playing in knee-deep sea water in some lagoon as you pass through on a small raft or row boat. Like the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride at Disney or something. I can’t back up this crazy imagination of mine with any solid reason for this vision, but I think it’s the folk nature, the weathered and shadowy vocals, and some of the irregular rhythm and silvertone organ. Someone might be able to picture them playing more in some rustic cabin out in some enchanted wood or something, but I see them more associated with water for some reason.
Anyway, definitely summertime tunes. I love them. Can’t go wrong. Limited to 222 pro-dubbed and imprinted c46 tapes with double-sided J-card and insert. Art by Phil French, the man behind the label. Which, by the way, is across-the-board amazing for all Stunned releases. See what enters your imagination when you hear this great new act. No matter what, I’m sure only good things will come to mind.
8/10
