Reflektor review

The fourth and most recent album by Arcade Fire, whose influences include the film Black Orpheus and Haitian music.

Tracks:

0. Unnamed Hidden Track: 4/10 what am I supposed to do with this?

1. Reflektor: 8/10 an unpredictable, philosophical and fiercely intelligent (If overlong) musical roller-coaster through many equally compelling musical highs and lows that is different to everything else Arcade Fire has done before.

2. We Exist: 8/10 this well-constructed song doesn't quite make its subject matter clear but it's still a very interesting listen.

3. Flashbulb Eyes: 8/10 this one manages not to outstay its welcome, and offers an interesting message and a strong baseline, although it does show Arcade Fire's occasional habit of being portentous and pretentious while meditating on deep themes.

4. Here Comes the Night Time: 8/10 while again over-extended, this overwhelming, vastly entertaining and deliciously dark tune is the album's best yet.

5. Normal Person: 7/10 the instrumental has a lot of energy, but the song is so cynical it's just a bit off-putting.

6. You Already Know: 6/10 you already know what?! Still, it's adequately entertaining to listen to.

7. Joan of Arc: 7/10 a bit confused and yet again overlong, but this one is still interesting and yet again with this album you never know what's coming.

8. Here Comes the Night Time II: 7/10 the instrumental is quietly powerful and it is effective, but overall this song is just a bit flat.

9. Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice): 6/10 more technically efficient yet pretentious stuff.

10. It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus): 8/10 this quietly powerful one is an improvement and extra points for its Greek mythology references.

11. Porno: 8/10 the brilliant instrumental and interesting ideas ensure this song will speak to most, even though the lyrics are far too vague.

12. Afterlife: 8/10 ditto.

13. Supersymmetry: 7/10 before the bizzare, nearly silent instrumental, this is a good one which does make you feel something.

Best song: Here Comes the Night Time
Worst song: You Already Know

Summary: This highly experimental album ultimately pays off just about. However, it's the weakest of Arcade Fire's albums to date and certainly has its problems. The Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a very fine story, but tying the album to it so much as well as a foreign film most listeners won't have heard of was a slightly odd decision. Much of the time listeners will be confused, while the album sometimes slides into being pretentious and over-indulgent. There is a slight sense of Arcade Fire losing its identity here, while Regine Chassagne is completely marginalized. Still, it is a fine album full of fascinating experimentation and unique, emotionally powerful material which goes far out of one's comfort zone and into complex, borderline art-house material. It took me a couple of listens to realize this, but Reflektor is an accomplished, hypnotic record which counter-balances its various missteps with some truly awesome compositions.    



Final rating: 8/10