Hard Islands is the second studio album by English electronic musician Nathan Fake. It was released on 27 April 2009 through Border Community, the label run by James Holden.[2] Comprising six tracks across 33 minutes, the album marked a shift toward a harder,[clarification needed] more club-oriented sound compared to his debut Drowning in a Sea of Love (2006).[3][4] Hard Islands received mixed to positive reviews from critics.[5]
| Hard Islands | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 27 April 2009 | |||
| Genre | Electronic[1] | |||
| Length | 33:01 | |||
| Label | Border Community | |||
| Producer | Nathan Fake | |||
| Nathan Fake chronology | ||||
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Background
editWhile Fake had gained recognition for the atmospheric, IDM-influenced sound of Drowning in a Sea of Love, his earlier EPs such as Outhouse (2003) and Dinamo (2005) had placed a greater emphasis on rhythm.[6] On Hard Islands, he returned to that more dancefloor-oriented approach, with live performances in the intervening years pushing his sound in a harder[clarification needed] direction.[4][6] The album's six tracks move between dense, effects-laden pieces and shorter interludes, with the longest track, "Castle Rising", running close to nine minutes.[1]
The album's packaging features photographs by Dan Tombs of the eroding Norfolk coastline, reflecting Fake's connection to the region.[2]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 8/10[7] |
| Pitchfork | 6.2/10[6] |
| Drowned in Sound | 6/10[4] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 5.5/10[3] |
Hard Islands received mixed to positive reviews. Clash gave the album 8 out of 10, praising Fake for developing a distinct sound that blends techno, IDM, shoegaze, and ambient influences without sounding derivative.[7] Resident Advisor was similarly positive, describing the album as straddling the line between melodic sophistication and harder-edged[clarification needed] experimentation, and praising the balance of restraint and intensity across the six tracks.[1]
Drowned in Sound gave the album 6 out of 10, acknowledging the shift toward denser, more club-oriented material but finding that the heavier production came at the cost of the melodic warmth of Fake's debut.[4] The Line of Best Fit gave a similar assessment at 5.5 out of 10, praising the energetic opening tracks but criticising the album's brevity and the unevenness of its second half.[3] Mark Pytlik of Pitchfork rated the album 6.2 out of 10, framing it as a deliberate move away from the pastoral IDM of the debut and a return to the rhythm-focused approach of Fake's earlier EPs, but noting that the six-track running time left it feeling less than a fully assertive statement.[6]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Nathan Fake.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Turtle" | 6:18 |
| 2. | "Basic Mountain" | 6:13 |
| 3. | "The Curlew" | 1:15 |
| 4. | "Castle Rising" | 8:57 |
| 5. | "Narrier" | 3:32 |
| 6. | "Fentiger" | 6:46 |
Personnel
edit- Nathan Fake – production, all instruments
References
edit- 1 2 3 Miller, Derek (15 May 2009). "Nathan Fake – Hard Islands". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Hard Islands". Nathan Fake. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 Gurney, Simon (9 June 2009). "Nathan Fake – Hard Islands". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Grant, William (11 June 2009). "Nathan Fake – Hard Islands". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ↑ "Nathan Fake – Hard Islands". Album of the Year. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Pytlik, Mark (30 July 2009). "Nathan Fake: Hard Islands". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 Diver, Mike (15 May 2009). "Nathan Fake – Hard Islands". Clash. Retrieved 23 February 2026.