Pitchfork

Despite near-non-stop touring in recent months, Islands principal Nick Diamonds-- now going by his given name, Nick Thorburn-- somehow managed to write up enough new material for two whole records, one of which will follow up 2006's Best New Music selection Return to the Sea.

"I feel a lot of unease and anxiety when I don't have a guitar near me," Thorburn revealed to Pitchfork during a recent chat. "I think that's where [the creative spark] comes from: an urge, a real desire to expunge music from my inner-being."

Thorburn also had mouthfuls to say about his band's latest exploits, his present songwriting ambitions, numerous periphery pursuits, the appeal of his "government" name, disowning "Rough Gem", cryptomnesia, the Killers, and Jelly Donut.

While Thorburn's reluctant to reveal titles, the first of Islands' two new discs should reach the mainland in September-- that is, if it gets made at all. "This record is going to be so good," enthused Thorburn, "I'm afraid that we won't get our shit together and be able to record it."

Thorburn seems invigorated of late by a new songwriting sensibility, one that might throw fans of the previous record for a loop. "The last time I talked to you I wanted to make the perfect pop song and pop record," the ex-Unicorn recalled. "And I realized I misquoted myself, because I have no desire to write popular songs for the populace. I want to make interesting, good music, and I think that's what I meant...I feel a need to write songs that are 15 minutes long right now. Maybe I'll get over that phase."

So what are we in for? "It's a physical record. It's someone plunging your face into a river and rescuing you. If Return to the Sea was the water record, this is the bodies."

Yikes! What's more: "The album is heavy. It's really a kind of rock record in minor keys. And a lot of syncopation and modulation and time-changes. It's really cool. It's got a classical bent to it.

"The last song on the record-- which doesn't exist yet-- is in three movements, like a concerto, and it ends with a phased loop, kind of Steve Reich style, so it's all over the place a little bit. It's not really breezy or summery. It's not a summer jam. It's darker than that. I'm looking forward to getting it made, and I think once we do that, everything will be okay."

Islands might return to pop on the second new LP, but Thorburn isn't thinking much about that right now. "Those songs exist, and if we have the time and money to record them we will, but for right now we're focusing on this record."

Recording, however, isn't the only thing delaying the new Islands LP. Nick has some pretty grand designs for packaging as well. "We're going to make each one ourselves, fold it up in a CFC Styrofoam container, non-recyclable, double plastic individually wrapped. The CD will be wrapped as well, and the booklet.

"Each member of Islands is going to hand-make the record. It's going to be really special, so it's going to take six months."

Like Return to the Sea, the meticulously-packaged new disc will bear the stamp of the Equator imprint. As for songs, Thorburn was happy to reveal two: a "centerpiece" called "The Arm" and "Into the Rushes", indirectly inspired by philosopher Martin Heidegger.

What we won't be hearing on the new record, however, is anything that sounds like Return standout "Rough Gem".

"I find [that song] a little insipid. I feel like that's really not encouraged, to shit-talk yourself...but that song gets on my nerves. It's really too chipper, too cheery for me right now.

"And it's cryptomnesiac. I stole that song unconsciously from Prince, so I'm giving it back. Cryptomnesia is a funny thing that has occurred throughout history-- authors and artists stealing from other authors and artists, either willingly or unknowingly, subconsciously or inadvertently. And it's pretty cool."

Along with the new sound comes a new surname, the name Nick had from the day he was born: Thorburn. "I think with J'Amie [Tambeur] leaving Islands [in May 2006] and really steering the ship now myself, the time was right to claim my true identity and own up to the shit I'm doing. I think before I wasn't confident enough to stand behind what I was doing...But now I really feel like I'm earning it.

"And besides, Diamonds is just a tacky, cheap kind of tawdry image, a little iconic graphic that people get tattoos of in Brooklyn, and I don't feel like I identify with that whatsoever.

"Thorburn is-- I've often thought it was a weird, punky sounding name, but it's kind of cool, it's got two pretty cool things in it: burn, things that burn-- that's cool-- and Thor. He was pretty cool. So I'm into it."

Thorburn's also into managing his own band for the time being-- something that hasn't always worked out so well. Islands were scheduled to play "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" last week, but forgot to obtain visas in time. Fortunately, Lady Sovereign came to the rescue in the 11th hour.

"Well, Jelly Donut was our first choice," Thorburn joked. "No, we have the same publicist, so our publicist just replaced us with Lady Sovereign, who was in town anyway. So all's well that ends terrible."

As if near-constant touring, writing two LPs, and managing his own band weren't enough, Thorburn also has his sights on a number of side projects-- including a highly confidential and possibly made-up rendezvous on a famous chain of islands: "I'm going to Hawaii to make a secret thing that I can't talk about-- I'm under oath. But that's going to be cool."

He also hopes to record material with ex-Island Jim Guthrie (of Royal City), and reprise rap troupe Th' Corn Gangg with another ex-Island, Tambeur.

Says Thorburn, the Corn Gangg record will feature "all the rappers we've ever met and gotten along with, except for some we didn't. And hopefully Ghostface will want to rap on the Islands instrumentals. Unlike the Killers [who, earlier this month, turned down an offer to collaborate with Ghostface], we won't say no.

"I think that was the dumbest thing they've ever, ever done-- Anyone has ever done."

So far the list of confirmed special guests includes frequent collaborator Subtitle and burgeoning Atlanta crew Supreme, but something seems to be missing. Might we suggest...Jelly Donut?