Arcade Fire‘s new single ‘Reflektor’ has leaked online ahead of its unveiling in New York tomorrow (September 9).
*UPDATE: All working links to the ‘Reflektor’ leak have now been taken down. The song is due to be revealed officially at 9pm tonight (September 9).
Following the appearance of a circular graphic spelling out the title of the track in several cities around the world, three images appeared on an Instagram account of the same name, lining up 9/9 9pm as a date of significance. It was later revealed that the Canadian band were behind the mysterious campaign and would be revealing their new single in full after two clips surfaced online.
Speculation has now begun to grow, suggesting David Bowie features on the track after it was reported yesterday that he had joined the band and former LCD Soundsystem man James Murphy in recording sessions at New York’s Electric Lady studios. Whilst Bowie is known to be a fan of the group and once performed ‘Wake Up’ with them, representatives for Arcade Fire have stated they can “neither confirm nor deny” the rumours.
Check our gallery of 50 geeky facts about Arcade Fire
Earlier this year James Murphy spoke to NME about the band’s new album, which he is helping produce. Quizzed on what it sounds like, Murphy said: “It sounds like Arcade Fire in the way that only Arcade Fire sound like Arcade Fire, you know? It’s really fucking epic. Seriously. I mean, I feel at this point like I’m too close to it to really talk it up and do it justice, you know?”
Meanwhile, Arcade Fire are said to have debuted a host of new songs at an intimate surprise set at a Montreal salsa bar last Wednesday (September 4). Local website The Main reported that the band played to a “couple dozen” fans at the Salsatheque venue, who were told they would be removed from the venue if they attempted to record or take pictures of the gig on their cameraphones.
The Main described the ‘standout’ song of the short set as: “Imagine the Talking Heads’ ‘Once In A Lifetime’, but if David Bowie had written it while on vacation.” They added that the all-new-material set “was unexpectedly dance-oriented, due to the upbeat rhythms of conga drums and electronic flourishes alongside their most poppy sounds.”
The band recently announced details of their first live dates for 2014. The Montreal group, who are preparing to release their fourth album in October, will perform live on the Big Day Out touring festival of Australia and New Zealand in January. Appearing alongside Blur and Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire will top a bill which also includes Major Lazer, Snoop Dogg, Tame Impala and DIIV. Big Day out will start on January 17 in Auckland before visiting Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.