From the eponymous opening track of Reflektor, the newest release from Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire, it is clear that the band has shifted their musical gears more so than with any of their three prior efforts.
The immediate impression one may get upon listening to the album for the first time is that of a disco masquerade being performed by dark rock ‘n’ roller types.
Throughout this latest installment, Arcade Fire allow themselves to break free from their prior categorizations, forming a new persona—actually referring to themselves as “The Reflektors” when performing the new material live. A major indulgence in synthesizers, an abundance of lesser common drum rhythms, and a broader lyrical scope helps to set this record apart from the others.
Contrary to the meaningful lyrics and melodic hooks of prior albums, a trademark sound for an indie rock group, Reflektor emphasizes a much more electronic-driven side of the band. The hooks lie in the bass-heavy rhythms which are far more pop-oriented than rock n’ roll, making almost all of the songs highly danceable.
The band drew influence from Haitian music after lead singer Win Butler traveled to Haiti with his wife and bandmate Regine Chassagne, whose family roots lie on the island. The band noted that they “wouldn’t have been able to make this album happen without Haiti.” Both the tracks “Here Comes The Night Time” and “Here Comes The Night Time II” were directly inspired by their time spent there, especially the former, which has recognizably Haitian inspired drum beats.
Drawing on the past, the band brings back some sounds from the late ‘70s early ‘80s era of electronic-influenced music. The track “We Exist” grooves with a bass line closely reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” while the synth and organ lines of the track “Afterlife” bounce and chirp similar to New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle”.
Though Reflektor does not seem to carry the same substantiality and accessibility to a varied crowd of listeners as its predecessors, the album grows on the listener. Reflektor recieves three and a half stars out of five.
