“Putting on the black tie, cranking out the white noise…”
The “life affirming” Arcade Fire – Picture © Ron Boudreau
Take to The Arcade Fire…
The current issue of
But, what you can’t read there is the full piece David wrote for the item, which amounted to four responses to a similar amount of questions. Here, exclusively, is the whole thing for your reading enjoyment…
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What attracted you to the Arcade Fire?
Along with Secret Machines and Animal Collective, The Arcade Fire topped my favourite albums of last year. Since working closely with the Montreal Dance Company La la la Human Steps in the late eighties and early nineties I’ve kind of followed all things Montreal. I bet I’m one of the few who has live boots of God Speed You Black Emperor.
There’s a certain uninhibited passion in The Arcade Fire’s huge, dense recording sound. Strings and guitars have never sounded so good and primitive together, almost dancing-in-a-French-village-square kind of exultant. They meld everything from early Motown, French Chanson and the Talking Heads through to The Cure in a kaleidoscopic dizzy sort of rush. I bought a huge stack of the Funeral CD last September and gave them to all my friends. I made so many converts.
What makes them unique?
Accordion, melodica and glockenspiel could have something to do with it. That plus a wonderful drummer who never lets up. I’ve always been a sucker for heartfelt lyrics and when they’re coupled to a relentlessly cathartic vocal performance like TAF’s Win Butler you’re in for a soul-affecting listening experience.
What did you think of their live show?
Hugely amusing, sad, tumultuous, life affirming and heart-clenchingly passionate. They often open with Wake Up and the moment the entire band scream out the first ‘Oh-oh-oh’, you know you’re in for a top-drawer night. I’ve seen them three times now and just think they’re the bees-knees. So does my son, Duncan. We’re family fans.
What do you think the future holds for the band?
I’m the last person to know an answer to that but if I have to predict I’ll suggest that they’ll be simply huge in the UK and Europe first in much the same way as Hendrix or The Pixies, as is usual with the more adventurous North American bands. America will trail behind about six months to a year and then co-opt them.
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As we told you earlier in the month, (02.04.2005 NEWS: DB JOINS THE ARCADE FIRE ON STAGE IN NYC) The Arcade Fire play their first European shows in March, and, as David suspected, both London shows are completely sold out. See ya there, kidz!