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arcade fire

Arcade Fire: Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

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by Matthew Butler

This is quite possibly the best song about a canine cosmonaut that DiS has heard in weeks. As a fitting tribute to the Soviet’s first dog in space, Laika, The Arcade Fire really do sound like they’re from another planet here with lots of high pitched yelping thrown in for good measure.

Everyone should have already, by law, bought ‘Funeral’ and fallen love with this piece of demented loveliness. For those not yet familiar with the strange neighbourhood The Arcade Fire have built, welcome in to number two which soars for three and a half minutes of demented pop perfection.

However there is also an aggressive, dark quality with choppy guitars battling away with heart-melting xylophones as singer Win cries out “Come on Alex, you can do it!” It is this delicious contrast – similar to how their songs about death feel so vibrantly alive - which makes the band so intriguing. Sort of how The Flaming Lips might have sounded if Wayne Coyne hadn’t fallen in a vat of acid as a child.

Penned for an imaginary brother named Alex, this is bonkers enough for the CD itself to be sectioned. Which would be madness as you wouldn’t want this record taken away by men in white coats, purely because then you wouldn’t be able to listen to it. Out of this world.

  • Arcade Fire 8 / 10

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

the packaging for this single is immense as well, wel worth a purchase

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

I dig the shouting by Regine in the final verse too...very dramatic.
Anyway we all know great this tune is, the question is what are/is the b side(s) like???

Re: The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

The B is an extremely bizarre song, 'My Buddy' supposedly from the 40s with a heavily distorted vocal songstress. As it comes with the Arcade Fire seal of approval I gave it a few listens but I imagine if it were from any other band I'd see it as a pretentious waste of plastic... Doesn't detract from the genius of the single though.

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

groovy. Although maybe this shouldn't have been the single? Surely Power Out is more immediate? Or have they already released that? CONFUSION! my goodness.

Re: The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

i know they released that in the US, but not sure about here. hmm.

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

I think the B-side was compopsed by a relative of one of the band.

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

love the single..adore the album

Re: The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

Despite having the album, I just bought this just for the cool packaging and mini CD

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

when they played this at the ulu one of them wore a motorcycle helmet and a marching band drum and ran around stage, climbed the speakers hiting his head with drum sticks whilst being chased by another member also hitting him with drum sticks

Re: The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

Yes! It was great and I managed to get a photo even if it does make it look like he has three hands:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/iforry72/arcadefire1.jpg

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

isnt the bside by the singers grandfather ... who it appears was also a bit of an experimentalist.

fantastic song...beautiful packaging...buy buy buy buy buy

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

Mmm...great song. It's not actually about Laika though, which everyone seems to miss.

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

I like the line "when daddy comes home you always start a fight so the neighbours can dance in the police disco lights". Great song.

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

I thought neighborhood #1 (tunnels) would have been a more obvious single. Great song anyway. Saw them the other day and never realised before how tall Win Butler is. He's a monster.




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