The Creem (Islands’ Nick Thorburn & Ratatat’s Mike Stroud) Announce Debut Album

Skip to ContentNew MusicIslands’ Nick Thorburn & Ratatat’s Mike Stroud Announce Debut Album As The Creem: Hear “Goodbye”AJBy Abby Jones3:33 PM EDT on April 29, 2026Share on FacebookShare on RedditShare on EmailShare on BlueskyNick Thorburn and Mike Stroud are both indie veterans: Thorburn co-founded the band Islands after the breakup of his previous group the Unicorns, while Stroud is a member of the electronic rock duo Ratatat, who've mostly been on hiatus over the past decade. Now, the pair are linking up for a new project called the Creem, with their debut album A Taste Of Cherry arriving this June. Say hello to the lead single "Goodbye."The origins of this collaboration go back 20 years: "I’d actually emailed the Ratatat account back in 2006, asking if Mike would be willing to play guitar on an Islands tour," Thorburn told Flood. "I had assumed Ratatat had broken up and was in need of an extra guitar. I was a fan of Ratatat from the beginning and even referenced the melody to their song ‘Cherry’ on the first Islands album."Then, about five years ago, and Stroud reached out to Thorburn about collaborating, adn the pair eventually met up at Stroud's Catskills studio. "Goodbye," A Taste Of Cherry's opener, is a piece of laid-back pop that splits the difference between Thorburn's knack for melody and Stroud's immediately recognizable guitars. Check that out below, along with the album tracklist. TRACKLIST:01 "Goodbye"02 "Goldmine"03 "Hard To Pretend"04 "Paraphernalia"05 "Augur"06 "Country Home"07 "Taste Of Cherry"08 "Never Hear The End Of It"09 "Rushing"10 "Circles"A Taste Of Cherry is self-released on 6/5. Pre-order it here.Share on FacebookShare on RedditShare on EmailShare on BlueskyAJAbby Jones@abbyfjones_Read More:Islands,Mike Stroud,Nick Thorburn,Ratatat,The CreemGET THE STEREOGUM DIGESTThe week's most important music stories and least important music memes.EmailSign upMore from New MusicExplore New MusicNew MusicChanel Beads Announces New Album With The Same Title As His Last AlbumApril 29, 2026New MusicBrutalismus 3000 Announce New Album Harmony, Share Boys Noize Collab “I Bring My Gun To The Function”April 29, 2026New MusicHammok – “Tap Water”April 29, 2026New MusicElder – “Capture/Release”April 29, 2026New MusicHyd – “Freak”April 29, 2026New MusicOpus Kink – “The Head Tree” (Feat. The New Eves)April 29, 2026