Arcade Fire return with euphoric single ‘Year Of The Snake’ and announce new ‘Pink Elephant’ album details
Arcade Fire have shared details about their forthcoming album ‘Pink Elephant’, and dropped the new lead single ‘Year Of The Snake’. Check it out below.
The new material comes after frontman Win Butler and co. began teasing their comeback in recent days and made a cryptic update to their social media bio last month. A series of unusual, pink-tinted posts were shared across social media in recent weeks too, leading fans to think it could be an indication for new material – likely a follow-up to 2022’s ‘WE’.
Taking to their fan club app last night (April 7), the members confirmed that the title of the forthcoming LP would be called ‘Pink Elephant’ and it would be arriving on May 9. They also revealed that there would be a lead single called ‘Year Of The Snake’, which would be arriving within the next 24 hours – although further details remained under wraps.
Now, the band have shared an official announcement about the album and dropped the euphoric lead single across streaming platforms.
With the new track, Arcade Fire showcase a joyful, optimistic approach that is set to continue across the entire LP. It sees Régine Chassagne deliver soothing vocals and make her debut on the bass, while Win Butler sits behind the drum kit for the first time with the band. The motif of newness continues into the song as a whole, as it explores ideas of renewal, positive transformation and new beginnings.
While the song has only been officially released today (April 8), the band did break out the track live while at Willie Nelson’s festival last month. Check it out below, alongside a new video that was made with help from longtime collaborator David Wilson and video artist Mark Prendergast.
As for the album as a whole, ‘Pink Elephant’ marks the seventh studio album from Arcade Fire and is set to explore a “cinematic mystical punk” approach. It spans across 42minutes and comprises 10 new songs, all of which were recorded at Win and Régine’s own Good News Recording Studio in New Orleans.
According to a new description, the title comes as a reference to “that paradoxical effect where the effort to suppress a thought leads to it being impossible to avoid.” It is also expected to lead the listener on a “sonic odyssey that exists within the perception of the individual, a meditation on both darkness and light, the beauty within.”
The band also state that they hope listeners will revisit the album as a whole multiple times, in order to allow the “layers of this condensed epic unfold to reveal new dimensions with each successive listen.”
Visit here to pre-order ‘Pink Elephant’, and check out the full tracklist below.
The track listing for Pink Elephant is:
1. ’Open Your Heart or Die Trying’
2. ’Pink Elephant’
3. ’Year Of The Snake’
4. ’Circle Of Trust’
5. ’Alien Nation’
6. ’Beyond Salvation’
7. ’Ride Or Die’
8. ‘I Love Her Shadow’
9. ’She Cries Diamond Rain’
10. ’Stuck In My Head’
As well as sharing details about the album and dropping the lead single, this week also marks the debut of the band’s own app called the Circle Of Trust. This is a direct way for fans to find Arcade Fire news, music and videos, as well as receive early access to tickets and exclusive merch.
On top of that, there are also episodes of Santa Pirata Radio where the band speak directly to fans and offer personal insights and behind-the-scenes info on all things Arcade Fire. You can download it here to check out the exclusive release of the track ‘Cars And Telephones’ alongside its accompanying video.
According to a new press release, the band are set to announce a series of “announce special gigs in select cities” within the next few days, and these shows will see Win Butler and co. perform the new album in its entirety ahead of the release date. More details about these shows will arrive soon.
‘Pink Elephant’ will be the band’s first new album since allegations of sexual misconduct arose against Butler. Four people came forward to accuse the singer of inappropriate behaviour, and the accusations also led to Feist leaving her tour early.
Butler replied to the allegations in a lengthy statement of his own, claiming he was “very sorry to anyone who I have hurt with my behaviour” but maintaining that “these relationships were all consensual”.
In other news, Arcade Fire have announced their only ‘Funeral’ 20th anniversary show for North America at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Visit here for tickets.
The post Arcade Fire return with euphoric single ‘Year Of The Snake’ and announce new ‘Pink Elephant’ album details appeared first on NME.
Liberty Dunworth
NME
