After months of anticipation, Arcade Fire have released the first single and accompanying video from their collaboration with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy as producer. The song is called “Reflektor” and while it doesn’t immediately grip you in the way an instant hit does, there is a listenable quality reminiscent of some of the slow burners on previous album Suburbs.
“Reflektor” has the qualities of most middling Arcade Fire songs: layered instrumentation and multiple voices that make the chorus a bombastic explosion of pop yearning against more sparse, minimalist production on the verses. The touch of James Murphy is definitely present in the steady groove that drives the verses and, yes, that is David Bowie providing backing vocals in the last minute of the song.
If the old adage you’re only as good as the company you keep has any truth to it, these guys must still be great.
Watch the video below or view it on the new Arcade Fire website.
