Arcade Fire have revealed the scenes of happiness which surrounded the construction of ‘The Suburbs’.
Arcade Fire have the reputation for sweeping orchestration, layering their melancholy in vast swathes of strings. However on ‘The Suburbs’ the band seemed inspired, content to re-visit a shared past.
Inspired by their youth in nowhere towns, Arcade Fire’s new album is – if not exactly joyous – then less weighed down in emotional baggage. Freed from the shackles of touring, it seems that more relaxed circumstances led the band to loosen up a little.
“Music is always reflective of the time in which it was created. It’s something that you can hear in music no matter what it’s about” said Win Butler.
“To me that’s one of the things that’s interesting. It’s not like making psychedelic music is the most genius idea of all time, but there’s something that really dates it to its own time. That’s what makes it interesting, not talking about giant mushrooms. This sense of something being in a time.”
Continuing, Regine Chassagne explained that simply being at home with her family was enough to take her mind off the stress of touring. “After ‘Neon Bible’ we took a year off, just staying at home and writing songs and doing regular things. That was a very happy time. ‘The Suburbs’ reflects that, yes” she affirmed.
Click HERE to read the entire interview.
Arcade Fire are in the UK to record a special appearance on ‘Later… With Jools Holland’ which sees them play two tracks from ‘The Suburbs’.
Joining them on the show are newcomers Mona and re-vitalised soul icon Mavis Staples alongside a few other special guests.
Also look out for the ‘cat in the hat’ Mr Simon Harper (Clash Magazine editor) in the audience…
