The Grammy award-winning band Arcade Fire released new single ‘Reflektor’ on September 9, which is also the title track on their upcoming album.
‘Reflektor’ marks a departure from the Montreal-based band’s characteristic sound. Gone is the melancholy yearning of their previous three albums, replaced by a four-to-the-floor beat and heavily processed instrumentation.
“Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” off preceding album The Suburbs offered a hint toward this kind of beat-heavy sound, but it was nowhere near as danceable as “Reflektor.”
Produced by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem with backing vocals by David Bowie, the influences of these 70s-esque songwriting vets are clearly visible on this–-the most apt way to describe it–disco song.
Despite the new sound, Arcade Fire maintain their theatricality and ability to create a texture so dense it almost seems overwhelming at times. The song’s sound is also reminiscent of Talking Heads, and though it’s a new direction for the band, it’s certainly not a bad one.
The only real gripe with ‘Reflektor’ is the track’s length–over seven and a half minutes seems excessive.
Engage with the track here.
Article by Tanooj Shah