Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Debut album Funeral was, indeed, a funeral. Funeral was dedicated to the family members of Arcade Fire who were lost during the album's creation. But now the funeral is over, and it would seem Win Butler et al needed no telling that it was time to move on. After their gloriously emotional debut LP, the band have raised their heads and cast rivers of tears upon tragedies of global proportion.

Once again, the band have succeeded in reaching extraordinary highs and lows of emotion in album the second, Neon Bible. Recorded and produced by Arcade Fire themselves in an old church which they bought especially for this purpose, the album takes its listeners on a heart-rendering journey.

As anyone who has had the supreme privilege of witnessing their live performance should know, Arcade Fire a band of comrades insistent on giving their all, on stage and on record. Their live show usually consists of all band members writhing in anguish, and often ends up in the venue car park looking more like a peace march. Neon Bible is no different, with album opener Black Mirror arriving like the apocalypse itself. Butler's backward reverb vocals take the stage and by the time the jubilant Keep The Car Running takes the baton, we've already been immersed in slamming drums and ominous string sections.

Now, we're gliding in on a flying carpet as Neon Bible flutters in. Snare's replaced by tearing books surround a dark lullaby about the worlds dwindling chances of survival, "If the Neon Bible is right." Recent single Intervention then takes center stage with great confidence as Win Butler regales, "Working for the church while my family dies." An ode to the fallen of the Iraq war, this song is a suitably epic anthem.

A few tissue boxes later and Antichrist Television Blues brilliantly sums up post 9/11 paranoia, "Don't wanna work in a building downtown, no, I don't wanna see it when the planes hit the ground," and the clutches of modern life whilst maintaining a chuddering pop rhythm.

So far the record has brought many of these catastrophic events into great clarity, but the bewitching melodies of Funeral that had everyone hooked from the first listen seem to be absent. This could be put down to the bands higher maturity levels, with songs needing five or more listens to truly sink in. Another teething problem with Neon Bible is the sometimes muddy production, which can be off putting.

All that aside though, and the album is nearly ready for its send off. And the endearing escapist ballad No Cars Go couldn't win back your attention better. Win Butler and wife Regine chime with childish excitement, "We know a place, where no ships go..." as they take your hand and lead you to their Neverland, where war is forgotten and fairies perch on toadstools. But before your feet leave the ground, album ender My Body Is A Cage ties bluesy weights to your shoes and forces you to walk through the ruins of a once great city.

And so we are back to where we started, with the Black Mirror held high against the false smiles of todays world. This is a momentous leap for Arcade Fire. Unlike its contemporaries, Neon Bible thrusts itself firmly into public view and will refuse to be forgotten for many years, and should be accompanied by a plaque which reads "This is a very important album."