Arcade Fire ‘Reflektor’ – ALBUM REVIEW

Music monsters Arcade Fire, hailing from Montreal, Quebec, hinted forth-coming album, ‘Reflektor’, back in August, with emblems adorning the mysterious phrase ‘Reflektor’, rumbling across the globe. 9pm, September 9th, revealed the emblems true cause. The cause was to let fans first taste the creative juices pouring from Butler and Co’s pen and guitar, ready to imprint their pristine tunes on our tongues forever.

On said released track, and opener of the album, we can see LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy painted all over ‘Reflektor’. Pulsing hearts through a sparkling wave of electric disco, weak-knees are created from the sinister hum of ‘des vivants et des morts’. Juxtaposing with this beautiful French slur, we jump into the hands of none other than David Bowie; delivering a haunting vocal to this new wave of dark disco.

Following on from the mammoth album opener, we have a jingly eighty’s vibe radiating from second track, ‘We Exist’. Cue piercing piano riffs mixed with a sprinkle of sophistication from the trusty synthesiser – and we seriously have the ultimate 80’s dance track. We’ll be digging out those bodysuits soon enough!

As we move away from the image of David Bowie in fluorescent pink legwarmers, we come to a more serious outlook into the minds of rocks most prestigious bands. ‘Here Comes The Night Time II’, ‘It’s Never Over (Oh Orpheus)’ and ‘Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)’ spin the album in a completely different direction – a frostier, darker and more sinister side – a flashback to 2004’s ‘Funeral’.  The incorporation of both songs and mythological Greek artwork, lend a shroud to track twelve’s beautifully euphoric ‘Afterlight’. The pure colour that surrounds this track is contrasted by a boom from pleading Butler, as he expresses his inner-demons ‘can we work it out?’ A subliminal message? One can only speculate, but it’s definitely something worth watching vigilantly.

This heartache is also portrayed in ‘Porno’. Sadly, no, this isn’t going to be the bands next experiment with the film industry, but that doesn’t mean no doors are being opened. The lead vocal, which is over-flowing with sultry sexiness, radiates dark tiers of sophistication, while being paired with eerie finger clicking. Running throughout ‘Porno’, most prominent to the ending, is a sinister Cure vibe. Is this the door Butler is opening? A door of love-loss and damage? Once again, we can only speculate, but it seems things aren’t too pretty in the AF camp

However, it’s track six that we find the ‘rock’n’roll’ AF are still buzzing around inside this foreign disco ball. ‘Ready to Start’ was a game-changer – ‘You Already Know’ seems to replicate the love we gained from ‘The Suburbs’. The melancholy lyrics pasted over a jangly guitar riff opens our eyes to why we still love and respect this band so much.

It’s an album like no other and it’s definitely worth peering into the veil surrounding it. With many hidden motifs and concealed whispers being integrated, and the sense of heart-break pleading through the instruments alone, creates an album filled with bloody passion. There’s only one way Arcade Fire can go; and that’s up.

Ella Scott

Ella Scott

Ella Scott

Gigslutz Editor, token Geordie and Blur fangirl. Naturally, achieving Vicky Pattinson's VIP edge is what drives me to get up in the morning.