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Welcome back!
It’s Tuesday, and that means records. It also means Taco Tuesday’s, or any other special designation you’ve already decided on.
Today, I’ll be discussing the new record from M83. Seems like I all see on my Facebook feed/blogs/anywhere-interweb-related is this record, and well, it’s pretty darn good.
If you are not familiar with M83, M83 are an act that was started by French musician Anthony Gonzalez and former member Nicolas Fromageau in Antibes, France. 
While Nicolas is no longer with the group, and now Gonzalez records mainly on his own, often with the help of his brother Yann Gonzalez, vocalist/keyboardist Morgan Kibby, and drummer Loïc Maurin. They have been labeled as “shoegaze” yet do not use a lot of guitars like most shoegazer bands, and have an overwhelming since of electronic exploration. Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts is probably their most well-known record, but Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is a slight departure from their norm.
HUWD is a double album, full of dips and dives, peaks and valleys. From the opening chords of Midnight City, you start that ubiquotous “head-nod” . And well, you don’t really stop nodding. You ride out these waves of synths and bass, crashing into waves of upward building melodies, that you just can’t stop humming along too.
If you like mildly-emotional vocals, pounding floor toms, and flying keyboards, you’ll like this album.
To make it as simple as possible, I’d call it “Fleet Foxes take a trip to Paris, decided to only hangout in dark dance clubs, then took a road trip to the French countryside at night, and followed that up with an Arcade Fire concert before they left.” Make sense?
The album is 22 tracks. And yes, its DEEP. And while I could go into the levels of each track, would you even read that?
Let’s get to the good stuff: This album is really, really good. It’s good enough to be put up their with their older albums. In fact, I think it’s better. As a HUGE FAN of the “concept album”, I think this is a noted departure for the band, and for their style of music in general. And while this album may push the band into the stratosphere of fame, it will be for good reasons. And with so much AWFUL music becoming more and more popular, it’s a nice break. So, put some headphones on, find a slightly darker room with a comfy seat…and enjoy.
Top Tracks: Midnight City, OK Pal, Steve McQueen.
Verdict: Buy it. It’s good. REAL good.
And the video for “Midnight City” by M83.
Any records you think I should do? Send me an email.
Until next time,
-Reid.
