LOVE and death, childhood and ageing underpin this whimsical debut from psychedelic Montreal quintet Arcade Fire.
The album's urgent, beating heart and redemptive beauty evolve from the wedding of harmony-singing songwriters Win Butler and Rgine Chassagne; the creeping sadness from three family deaths in quick succession during the recording sessions. The boundless possibilities of unimpeded youth are explored in the strange fantasy suite of four Neighbourhood songs, but the realities of growing old trouble Crown Of Love and Wake Up. Funeral's orchestral chamber pop is as odd as socks, as epic and enraptured as the tremulous Flaming Lips, as quirky and jagged as Talking Heads - and almost as good as the rush of near-hysterical reviews would suggest, but ever so slightly pretentious.
Updated: 08:48 Thursday, March 24, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article