Arcade Fire review: Returning heroes land a knockout blow

The sweaty, cramped conditions on stage made for a feverish atmosphere, says David Smyth
Hitting the high notes: Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire on stage at York Hall
Angela Lubrano/Livepix
David Smyth16 November 2017

As they strode through the crowd in an east London sports hall to the space where a boxing ring normally is, nine returning musicians were introduced as: “The undefeated Arcade Fire!”

This was a heavyweight fixture, an intimate first opportunity for London to hear songs from a fifth album by a Montreal band more commonly found headlining arenas or festivals. They have a habit of doing these small-scale reintroductions, though in this case their need for an unusual venue outweighed a few more practical concerns. It was hotter than Tyson Fury’s jockstrap in there, and the sound, while loud, was often indistinct.

However, the sweaty, cramped conditions on stage made for a feverish atmosphere. They had to go about their business in jostling proximity, with frontman Win Butler standing on an amp perhaps less to goad the crowd and more to get some breathing space. Brother Will stampeded around hitting everything in sight with a drumstick.

The imminent new album is called Everything Now and sees the band mocking brands, with much talk of “synergy” on social media. The conceit of the title track, that the internet crushes us with choice, was pretty obvious, but the song’s disco flourishes were a delight. Creature Comfort showed darker humour, ironically suggesting fame or suicide are life’s only options and proposing “our first record” as the ideal soundtrack for the latter. That record, Funeral from 2004, provided many of the evening’s most euphoric moments, especially with the massed singing of Wake Up.

As they have progressed they have shifted from rabble-rousers to groove-makers, working with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem on their last album and Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk on the next. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), an early indication of that dancey direction, showcased the talents of red-jumpsuited Régine Chassagne, who sang high and waved streamers. No doubt larger gigs will follow, but this was a knockout.

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