Montreal'sArcade Fire is the latest breath of crisp northern air to spark ourheavy brains, and their debut album is a wonderful promulgation ofthoughtful, emotional pop music that is striking in its clarity."Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" is an epic opener, so captivating that itmay be some time before a listener can escape it to experience the restof the album. A simple piano melody leads the track, placing its feeton the ground before the crushing crescendo of organs, accordions,guitars, chimes, and synths appears, bursting this love song at theseams. Vocalist Win Butler imbues the song with such fervor, animperative desire that speeds the song along as the drums linkthemselves to the heartbeat, pushing the band to a breathless brink."Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" is a far tighter piece, drawing the scopeinward from the epic sprawl of "Neighborhood #1" to a darker, confinedsound. A lolling accordion and sharp strings punctuate the driftingvocals, almost accusatory in their tone like a Greek chorus deliveringtheir take on the situation from just offstage. The layout of "Laika"is quite clever, tossing new elements and surprising shifts into thesong that make it far more intriguing than any straight ahead design.The Arcade Fire seems comfortable warping song structure to fit theirexpressive needs, and it works well throughout the disc. "Crown ofLove" finds Butler channeling a suicidal Scott Walker, a quiet plea offorgiveness above a restrained orchestral swell, building and buildinguntil the weight becomes too much to bear. As the song closes it eruptsinto a stunning gallop, that hits like a ton of bricks and slowly fadesaway, comfortable departing with that shock still in the air. "Wake Up"aims to rival the Polyphonic Spree when it comes to off-kilter choralacrobatics. While the comparison is initially apt, the song quicklydiscovers its own place, a far less absurdist and far more realistforay into celebration of living, with all its complexities. Themusical background of the song is overwhelming, and far more fullbodied than much of the aforementioned comparison's output. Once again,as soon as the comfort of the musical motif of the song sets in, theband takes a hard turn into sixties girl groups territory, throwing inthe whole wall of sound. Funeral is an exhilarating experience:the debut of a fresh, invigorating band and a batch of songs that willensconce themselves in the hearts and minds of many for years to come. Read More
