Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Islands is a 6 piece band founded in 2005 by The Unicorns co-founder/songwriter Nick Thorburn (often performing as "Nick Diamonds") and drummer J'Aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of The Unicorns as they teetered on the brink of breaking through, Islands' debut release entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies includes collaborations with members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. This debut picks up where The Unicorns left off and takes the music to new heights without departing from The Unicorns' unique if sometimes peculiar appeal.
Islands plays beautiful pop melodies, intertwined with elements of afro-pop, hip hop, and indie rock, among others. One of the main gimmicks of the band is the recorder brought over from The Unicorns, which is prominently featured in the song "Jogging Gorgeous Summer." Nick Diamonds rules over the band with an iron fist. Other members include: Patrice Agbokou, Aaron Harris, Alex Chow, Sebastian Chow, and Patrick Gregoire. Return To the Sea, their rookie effort, was released on April 4th, 2006 on the brand new label, Equator Records, and Rough Trade in the UK. Digital Distribution handled by Alpha Pup.
On May 20, 2008, Islands released its second album, Arm's Way, on Anti- Records.
On September 22, 2009 Islands released their third full length album, Vapours.
On February 14, 2012 Islands released their fourth full length album, A Sleep & A Forgetting.
On September 17, 2013 Islands released their fifth full length album, Ski Mask
On May 13, 2016 Islands released their sixth and seventh full length albums, Should I Remain Here, At Sea? and Taste.
Everything Is Under Control
Islands Lyrics
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We'll know when they find us,
Triangulate,
Shine their light on us
They say
"everything is under control, so climb out from under your hole"
Might scare some of you
And truth be told
These dreams are coming true
But
Everything is under control
Don't climb out
From under your hole
And i'm in control
And i'm in control
Under control
I'm in control
I'm in control
Under control
The song Everything Is Under Control by Islands is a haunting commentary on the uncertain and dangerous times we live in. The opening lines suggest an imminent threat, that the singer is being pursued and will be found. This sets a dark and foreboding tone for the rest of the song. The repeated lyric "everything is under control" is both reassuring and ominous, as if the authorities are trying to convince the listener that all is well while at the same time hinting that things are far from okay. The image of being told to "climb out from under your hole" adds to this sense of unease, as if the listener is being asked to expose themselves to danger or to come out into the light where they can be seen.
The lyrics suggest that the nightmare we are experiencing is not just in our heads, but is in fact becoming reality. The repeated line "I'm in control" could be interpreted in a number of ways - either the singer is trying to convince themselves that they are in control, even though they may not be, or they are asserting their power in the face of an oppressive authority. The overall message of the song seems to be that even though the situation is dire, we must not give up or give in to fear, and we should hold on to our sense of self and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't have much time
We are running out of time.
We'll know when they find us,
We will be found soon enough.
Triangulate,
Search for our location using triangulation.
Shine their light on us
Use a light to illuminate our location.
They say
"everything is under control, so climb out from under your hole"
They are assuring us that everything is under control and we don't have to hide anymore.
This nightmare
Might scare some of you
And truth be told
These dreams are coming true
The situation might seem like a nightmare and it is truly scary because it is becoming a reality.
But
Everything is under control
Don't climb out
From under your hole
We are still being assured that everything is under control and we should continue to hide.
And i'm in control
And i'm in control
Under control
It is being emphasized that they are in control of the situation.
I'm in control
I'm in control
Under control
The repetition of the previous line emphasizes that they have everything under control.
Contributed by Aaron O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.