Album Review: Arcade Fire – Reflektor

Arcade Fire return with their highly anticipated fourth double-disc album, ‘Reflektor’, for which the bar has been raised considerably high since we last heard this Indie-Rock band, thanks to their Grammy-winning album ‘The Suburbs’.
The Canadian group bring in LCD sound system honcho James Murphy as co-producer to enlist all the sounds of the expansive ’80s, where Punk, Indie, Rock, Rap and Dance music happily coexisted in harmony.

The title track, ‘Reflektor’ is reminiscent of early ’80s Glam-Rock and features a vocal appearance from David Bowie, which further nods to this era.

‘We Exist’ struts in with a slick Billie Jean-esque bass groove. The mid-tempo ‘Here Comes The Night Time’ is a jaunty little Pop song that lyrically gives us some Clash-styled politics. ‘Joan Of Arc’ is the final track on disc one and is a hectic, Punk-inspired ode to the historical figure.

On disc two, with its finger-snapping synth beats and synthesizer screech, ‘Porno’ takes us nostalgically back to the Disco era. The closing track “Supersymmetry”, with its beautiful swirling production, sees both Butler and Chassagne harmonise over the simple arrangement that slowly fades into six-minute ghostly sound effects.

‘Reflektor’s sound is lavish and imaginative, but never in a way smothers you with its polished production. This is definitely a different, but well received kind of flame for Arcade Fire.