[News] Arcade Fire's New Album 'Reflektor' Detailed, Listen to the Titular Single

9pm on September 9th. Today is the big day. Arcade Fire has hinted about and teased it for months now, and fans and bloggers alike have speculated, ruminated and hunted for details, but it's finally here. The band has officially unveiled their fourth album Reflektor.

For those living in countries with access to the 9pm availability of the album's titular single on iTunes (it's still only 12 noon where I currently am), some tantalizing details were provided. First, Reflektor will be released on October 29th, as we already knew. Second, that's the artwork posted above—it is inspired by the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. Third, it will feature thirteen songs, one of which is "Reflektor." The running times and titles of the other twelve have yet to be revealed.

Now, on to the most exciting part! While you may not yet be able to purchase "Reflektor" on iTunes, Arcade Fire have shared an interactive video featuring the song. Teaming up with Google Chrome and frequent collaborator Vincent Morisset, the video "follows a young woman who travels between her world and our own." You can view the interactive piece, filmed in Jacmel, Haiti, here, and below you can watch a behind the scenes look at the making of the video.

"Reflektor" was produced by LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy and features vocals from David Bowie. It is available to buy digitally today at 9pm—yes, it is time zone specific—and will also come as a 12" vinyl at select record stores. Arcade Fire will also be performing on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 28th.

UPDATE: Arcade Fire have released an official video for "Reflektor," this time featuring the band members themselves. Directed by Anton Corbijn, it's simply fantastic from start to finish, full of dark touches and charming oddities. Arcade Fire are owning this day. Replay the video below.

[News] Arcade Fire Confirms October Release Date for New Album

There was recently word that Arcade Fire would be releasing new music on September 9th, and if that's true then today's news would certainly make sense. After a fan tweeted the band saying "you're my favorite," they replied with "Thanks. Our new album will be out October 29th." It also came paired with the image above.

There you have it, October 29th. This just goes to show that a simple show of gratitude can go a long way.

@fifferwright Thanks. Our new album will be out October 29th. pic.twitter.com/CAgYucvimo

— Arcade Fire (@arcadefire) July 12, 2013

[News] Arcade Fire to Release New Music on September 9th

We know Arcade Fire has been working on new material. James Murphy recently told Rolling Stone the band recorded at DFA Records' studio in March. Hell, in an interview last fall band member Jeremy Gara told Canadian radio station CKCU that they hoped to release a new album by the end of 2013. It's been too long since 2010's standout The Suburbs consumed our eardrums.

Revolt reports that sources close to Arcade Fire revealed September 9th as a date to watch out for. Apparently, the band will unveil new music that day, giving credibility to Gara's hopeful release window. It's not a lot to go on (barely anything to be honest), but if it's true we might just get a new Arcade Fire LP by the end of the year. We'll keep updating the story as it develops.

For now, you can watch the band performing a new track titled "Crucified Again," debuted during a show in New York last October.

[Watch] James Murphy Discusses His Life and Career with Red Bull Music Academy

Red Bull Music Academy has been curating a lot of exciting things in New York this month, but among the most exciting was a 90-minute interview with James Murphy. In front of a 60-plus audience of students Murphy discussed various aspects of his life and career, including the history of DFA Records, his favorite songs and influences, his personal style, his DJ sets and more. Watch the full interview below, and trust me it's worth it.

In other James Murphy news, he recently spoke with Rolling Stone about his role on Arcade Fire's new album. He revealed that the band had been recording at DFA Records' studio in March, and that his role was more along the lines of suggesting ways to approach or fine-tune aspects of the record. He then said, "I think it’s going to be a really great record, actually. I’m eager to see it come out."

Once again teaming up with Red Bull Music Academy, Murphy recently performed a DJ set in New York celebrating DFA Records' 12-year anniversary (also see RBMA's related short documentary). Stream his full set below.

[News] Arcade Fire Debut New Material at Secret Show

Arcade Fire's album The Suburbs is over 2 years old now, and that means the band have been locked away working on some new material for quite some time. The ever reliable Arcade Fire Tube now points out that the Montreal group played a small secret show at Breakglass Studios over the weekend on Saturday night in their hometown. Exciting, right? They also used a different band name using the moniker Los Identiks and the new music was said to be "dance-y" and according to The Vine the tiny audience of about 100 people consisted of "friends, strangers, randoms". Now, the band were pretty strict with their filming policy, and no foortage actually hit the net so props to them and the crowd for staying true to that so for now all we can do is get excited. Check out a new track titled "Crucified Again" from New York in October.

We're expecting a new album from the band some time in 2013.

[News] James Murphy Squashes Rumors that he's Producing New Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs Albums

Rumors have been circulating about James Murphy's involvement with the new albums from Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, where it was thought he was serving as producer. The former LCD Soundsystem frontman spoke with The Huffington Post, where he addressed the recent rumors:

We don’t work like that. Because I work with friends, if I have time and they’re doing something and I’m on the East Coast, then we can do something. But also they don’t need a producer, in a way. They produce themselves. When I was making my record, any number of people came and spent a couple weeks or a week hanging out and being involved in the process."

 He went further to address his recent in studio time with Yeah Yeah Yeahs member Nick Zinner:

I just did a little fun stuff. Nothing really big; I don’t have time and they don’t have time. I think they’re done with their record now, I was just fussing around. I didn’t make their album. They’re just friends."

[Watch] Arcade Fire Perform New Song "Crucified Again" Live

ArcadeFireTube points us towards an amazing treat to finish off the week with, footage of Arcade Fire performing a new track live. Last night during Partners In Health’s 25th birthday celebration at Guastavino’s in New York City, the band performed "Crucified Again". The song is expected to be find itself on Arcade Fire's follow-up to the band's stunning 2010 album The Suburbs, which has been hinted at by drummer Jeremy Gara as a possible 2012 release. In the meantime, watch the footage below and tide yourself over a bit longer.

[Watch] Mick Jagger, Foo Fighters & Arcade Fire Visit SNL

As we reported last week, Saturday Night Live broadcast the Finale of its current season this past weekend and the guests were pretty damn noteworthy! Mick Jagger presented and was joined by Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire and Jeff Beck. If like me you live in the UK and missed the broadcast don't fret as The Audio Perv managed to catch all the action so we can re-live it today. First up at the top you can see Mick perform "The Last Time" with Arcade Fire and Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes. 

After the jump we have a host of videos to keep you entertained and wipe away the Monday Blues. Following Arcade Fire is hard but if anyone can do it you'd have to choose Foo Fighters to do it, right? They performed a medley of "19th Nervous Breakdown and "It’s Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)". 

Next up was Mick and the talented Mr. Jeff Beck who debuted a new blues inspired track from the Rolling Stones man.

The final part of SNL's Finale was a little bit of a bummer as after 7 years on the show it appears Kristen Wiig is leaving the cast.  Arcade Fire and the house band performed "She’s Like A Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday" whilst Kristen and the cast members all looked a little emotional.