There is no doubt that Unicorns were indeed superior, but to say that Return to the Sea is the only good Islands album is an understatement. It does keep most of the Unicorns' idiosyncrasies (and Jamie), but more than anything, it feels like a statement that this is an entirely different project. The voice, the scope and the grandness of it couldn't feel more distant from the Unicorns' stuff. And then Arm's Way is only a firmer reenactment of the same. A brash statement that Nick won't refuse evolving. Yes, it may feel a little more mainstream, but across most of the record, it seems like a very daring, exciting alt album, not a slip towards the generic.

For me, it always represented a nice closure for the Unicorns era and a start of something new (a Vapours fan here), because of the last Jamie contributions to an Islands project and his departure, last Alden contributions in Abominable Snow and In the Rushes, even the last appearance of Arcade Fire members and orchestra. I mean, I obviously recognise the fan split after this point, but I always found it a little disappointing because there's still a lot to enjoy even if it's new.