Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

If you thought you’d seen everything Montreal’s flourishing music scene had to offer at Etoiles Polaires Montréal, think again. Islands could not attend the festival, but will undoubtedly make up for that with this concert.

When The Unicorns called it quits, Alden Penner embarked on a solo career while also setting up new band Clues (he performed in both incarnations at Etoiles Polaires Montréal). Former band mate Nicholas Thorburn went his own way and founded Islands. Their 2003 debut album Return to the Sea (with guest performances by members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade) was a cheerful hotchpotch of pop songs featuring ukuleles, synths, clapping and tropical influences; ingredients borrowed from Paul Simon that garnered Vampire Weekend success a couple of years later. However, Islands is not a one-trick pony, as they prove on their new album, Arm’s Way. The songs are more whimsical and grown-up, but just as strong as they’ve always been. “A sparkling album that has the listener on the edge of his seat more than once.” (De Morgen)