Canadian outfit ARCADE FIRE is one of Alternative Nation's brightest hopes for the forthcoming decade. Taking by the name, you could expect something Electro, but "Arcade" indeed refers to a city shot down in flames a decade ago, that summarizes their approach to perfection. ARCADE FIRE is all about being consummed by the flames of love and torment, and finding some great reward out of it.

Everything seems to be in the right place - couple Win Butler/Regine Chassagne lick their vocal wounds with delicacy whereas Richard Reed Parry, Timonthy Kingsbury and Will Butler rollercoast their instruments with ease (everyone plays everything here). Include guests Pietro Amato (horns), Howard Bilerman and Arlen Thompson (drums), Anita Fust (harp), Genevieve Heistek (viola), Jessica Moss, Sophie Truedeau and Sarah Neufeld (violins), Michael Olsen (cello), Owen Pallett (strings) to compose any desirable sonic landscape. The record is called "Funeral". The moods follow one another, savagely. This is where FRANZ FERDINAND meets ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN.

Harps and ancient pianos open the suite called Neighborhood. Part one, Tunnels. Despair and emotion charges. Some bagpipes on the horizon. That tortured, strained delivery reminiscent of Ian McCulloch. On the background, odd lullabies bleeding in crescendo. And that unintelligible chorus. It could have been 1983.

Part two, Laika. This time, accordion and violas bring to mind THE FALL and THE THE, but the rhythm is akin to THE HIVES. That plaintive vocals display some innocence being built and burned down. Than, mad rants. Painful memories of that neighborhood. Another opaque 80s chorus. As if it were 1984...

Une Annee Sans Lumiere ("An year without a light") displays the first vocal duet. Strangely, it reminds me of DINOSAUR JR, but with all edges polished. A calm-down tune, pretty and reflective, ending with a sudden burst of hope and enlightment, in fervor. Stuff like these is what those "new rock" starlets should deliver!

Part three of the Neighborhood suite, Power Out. This time, late 80s' textures and drum machines. Some clowny ambience, strangely compelling and challenging. When XTC and PRINCE share the same table, you have THE CURE circa 1987. This was cut straight from Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.

Closing the suite, part four, 7 Kettles. Harps, violins, cellos. A pastoral folk BUNNYMEN in Highlands. THE PASTELS would be proud, too. I love those Scottish ruminations! The most focused song of this band, period.

Crown of Love is SPANDAU BALLET on sleeping pills. Almost vaudevillian feel, harmonies tied by heartstrings, carousel rhymes, spiked violins. Odd, the backing vocals remind me of B-52S! Romanticism outpouring.

Wake Up strangely fuses FRANZ FERDINAND grip and rhythm with ABBA vocal harmonies and pianos. Sedated arrangements. Deceptive strings bring THE BUNNYMEN back in town. It resembles a train slowy getting out of tracks. Inventive, ironic!

Haiti (what a name for an cloudy ballad) is another gem, this time bringing in some synths, brightful violins and xylophones, Chassagne singing alone. SIOUSXIE & THE BANSHEES for the digital age. I love this woman's voice, my imagination runs wild with those French-spiced sparks. Oh, she's married to the bandleader. The poppish offering, if there was any indication ARCADE FIRE needed one.

Rebellion (Lies) is another reflective incursion on COCTEAU TWINS-meets-GANG OF FOUR. Harps and cellos collide with angular guitars, that's the calling card of this band. Another unreedeemably 80s chorus: "Everytime I close your eyes"...Subtle, but alluring all the more. Rob Smith from THE CURE needs to be infused urgently with his followers words of confident melancholy!

In the Backseat caps the album in a fairytale ambience, Chassagne's charms displayed all at once. Childhood reminiscences turned into inner turmoil (and them, redeption) is the bread-and-butter of uncountable bands, but ARCADE FIRE manages to find a newbord niche amidst the multitute. MERCURE REV with a muscular edge! Epic rebirth. REM, if you hear, don't give up.

ARCADE FIRE is for for the heart, soul, mind, and guts. That is to say: poetry. See ya!

Tracklist:

01 (* * * *) Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
02 (* * * *) Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
03 (* * * * 1/2) Un Anee Sans Lumiere
04 (* * * *) Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
05 (* * * * 1/2) Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
06 (* * * *) Crown of Love
07 (* * * * 1/2) Wake Up
08 (* * * *) Haiti
09 (* * * * 1/2) Rebellion (Lies)
10 (* * * * 1/2) In the Backseat

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Going to Sleep