Arcade Fire's "Pink Elephant" is their new release

Only they know what the titular invasive thought is, but Arcade Fire’s new set suggests doubts about a lack of direction. It reprises their indie-modified take on panoramic, heartland rock and synth-pop, though with little emotional impact and no clear intent. 

You’d imagine the three brief instrumentals provide welcome breaks from the intensity, but there is none, unless you count the Prodigy soundalike “Alien Nation”, “Year Of The Snake” (a diminutive U2 byway of Coldplay) or the Kings Of Leon-ish chug that is sweary closing epic “Stuck In My Head”. 

An agreeable, college-rock swell with a faint hint of country carries the title track but it’s nowhere near enough.