Baltimore group Future Islands release As Long As You Are, their sixth studio record, via 4AD.As Long As You Are looks to the past as well as the future, confronting old ghosts and embracing a new hope. It is an album about trust, full of honesty, redemption and letting go, allowing old wounds to heal and bringing painful chapters to a close.As Long As You Are also signals a new era for Future Islands. Drummer Mike Lowry officially joinsas a fully-fledged member and songwriter bolstering the founding trio of William Cashion, Samuel T. Herring and Gerrit Welmers. Together, the four-piece took on official production duties for the first time, co-producing As Long As You Are with engineer Steve Wright at his Wrightway Studios in Baltimore.Their brand of new wave synth-pop, full of bright melodies and heavenly choruses, is as euphoric and uninhibitedly joyful as anything the band have done in their 14-year career.