For possibly the first time in her life, Barbra Streisand was at a loss for words. “And the Grammy,” she said, tearing at the lacquered envelope, “goes to ... The S-S-S-S-Suburbs?”. If Streisand was surprised at Arcade Fire’s unexpected album of the year win at the music industry’s annual backslapper pow-wow earlier this year, it was nothing compared to the disbelief felt by the group themselves. Sloping up to accept their gong, clad in their regulation Amish wedding band vestments, they didn’t so much resemble gate-crashers at an exclusive party as recent arrivals from another planet (let’s call it Angsty Indiepop IV).

Arcade Fire headline Electric Picnic on the Saturday.For possibly the first time in her life, Barbra Streisand was at a loss for words. “And the Grammy,” she said, tearing at the lacquered envelope, “goes to ... The S-S-S-S-Suburbs?”. If Streisand was surprised at Arcade Fire’s unexpected album of the year win at the music industry’s annual backslapper pow-wow earlier this year, it was nothing compared to the disbelief felt by the group themselves. Sloping up to accept their gong, clad in their regulation Amish wedding band vestments, they didn’t so much resemble gate-crashers at an exclusive party as recent arrivals from another planet (let’s call it Angsty Indiepop IV).

Arcade Fire headline Electric Picnic on the Saturday.