To coincide with the release of the documentary film The Reflektor Tapes, Canadian indie-rockers Arcade Fire have issued a deluxe edition of their 2013 LP Reflektor. Adding five unreleased originals, plus a new remix of an existing track, Arcade Fire again demonstrate their unique and diverse range.
Kicking off the bonus disc is Apocrypha, a rockabilly folk song that begins with a sample from the film, Imagine: John Lennon, demanding your immediate attention. Then comes the reggae-influenced Woman Of A Certain Age, followed by Dennis Bovell’s out of this world, dub-reggae remix of Reflektor cut Flashbulb Eyes, featuring Jamaican poet, Linton Kewsi Johnson. The richly layered, piano-led rock ballad Soft Power is up next.
The obvious high points of the collection are Get Right and Crucified Again. Get Right incorporates sounds of old-school blues with a dirty, provocative bass line and slick, alluring vocals to match. Arcade Fire almost take the track one step too far by blending in sonic soundscapes, but they stop just in time. On the other hand, Crucified Again is a tender and subtle nod to the band’s history of extremely moving melancholy songs. With almost a whisper, Win Butler exposes the shackles of the church, as his vulnerable vocals are laid over a single acoustic guitar and the band’s string section. The two tracks are a perfectly contrasted pair and are available as a limited edition seven-inch vinyl.
While these six tracks weren’t included on the original album, Reflektor (Deluxe)proves even Arcade Fire’s off-cuts are of the highest quality.
BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON
