Islands are forever?

Sadness. I've just read that J'aime Tambeur is leaving Islands. Where'd this info come from? I saw it on the official Islands site right here:

"The long time collaboration that is Nick Diamonds and J'aime Tambeur has come to it's end. Main songwriter Nick Diamonds will continue on with the band as it's currently experiencing an impressive and fortunate peak. Tours will remain in tact, future recording will come.

It is with sadness that I report Jamie has left Islands, but the band waltzes on! We wish Jamie the best in his new life. Islands are forever. -NICK DIAMONDS"

That's not a very nice way to start the week. Let's hope for the best for J'aime, he's a great guy, and let's hope Islands don't go the way of The Unicorns. I've seen Islands a few times live (including the excellent show at Avalon that I didn't even write about) and thought they were amazing. Also, their debut album is one of the best of 2006. Buy it HERE. Scheduled tour dates below.

July
02-Belforth, France Eurockeennes
03-Malmo, Sweden Accelerator
05-Gothenborg, Sweden Accelerator
06-Stockholm, Sweden Accelerator
07-Borlande, Sweden Peace & Love Festival - Accelerator Stage
08-Helsinki, Finland Klubb Gang
10-Frankfurt, Germany Brotfabrik
12-Munster, Germany Gleis 22
14-Frankfurt, Germany ASTA Sommerfest
15-Dour, Belgium Dour Festival
16-Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso
17-Nijmegen, Netherlands Valkhof Affaire
18-Liege, Belgium L'Escalier
19-Utrecht, Netherlands Tivoli (de Helling)
22-London, England TBA
23-Manchester, England Roadhouse
24-Glasgow, Scotland ABC2
25-Dublin, Ireland Sugar Club
26-Birmingham, England Bar Academy
27-London, England Bardens Boudoir

August
05-Haldern, Germany Haldern Festival
11-St Malo, France Route du Rock
17-Avenches, Switzerland Festival Rock'O Z'Arenes

Previous Islands stuff on EAR FARM:Weekend Live Music - Islands Live @ First Unitarian Church, Review - Islands @ Webster Hall - 11 March 2006, Review - Islands @ Knitting Factory NY - 6 December 2005, 8+ Islands - "Swans (Life After Death)"

UPDATE: Read a bit more about it on Pitchfork HERE.