M83

                                       Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming 

                                                     9.2/10

                                                  iPod Worthy

For the past few records, M83’s mastermind, Anthony Gonzalez, has found inspiration in growing up. In 2008, he created the nostalgic-packed and delicate Saturdays = Youth, which was full of John Hughes references - the cover looks like an alternative to Pretty in Pink and it sounds like an album that the cool and hip Sam Baker may have listened to back in 1986. For M83’s sixth LP, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, Gonzalez continues on the themes of being an angsty teen, childhood innocence and 80s nostalgia, buteverything is turned up to 11, resulting in a more ambitious, lush and moving album.

“Epic” is a word that is thrown around a lot when describing the kind of music M83 makes. And it’s a pretty apt adjective. So, it only seemed appropriate that Gonzalez make Hurry Up a double-album: 22 new tracks that clocks in at over 73 minutes long. Going into the record there is one thing you’ll have to keep in mind: it’s not perfect. No double-album is; even the White Album has some flaws. However, the result is pretty spectacular as Gonzalez manages to bring his sound to another level and making Hurry Up a wide-screen and touching experience. 

“Intro,” featuring Zola Jesus’ Nika Danilova, opens up with bouncing synths and eerie whispers, reminiscent to Before the Dawn Heals Us’ first track “Moon Child.” “Where were you before you even existed?” she asks us. Then Gonzalez chimes in and you’ll notice his vocals are extremely different here - deeper and whacky it will take some getting used to (especially if you are already a fan of M83). Spacey synths build up around Zola Jesus gothic wails and drums and a choir eventually kick in, which swallow you up in a huge array of sound. Lead single, “Midnight City” follows and is easily one of the best songs of the year. The neon-lit track perfectly blends shoegaze and electro creating an unmistakable dreamy, sleek and rich song; “Looking at the mutated skyline/ the city’s my church,” Gonzalez belts out. Things become even more intense when the killer saxophone solo bursts through and finishes out the track. The Peter Gabriel-esque “Reunion” is M83’s most danceable song and is full of cowbell, fast drums and the French singer showing off his new vocal approach. Additionally, we see another flashback to Before the Dawn as a young woman appears with a monologue, starting it off with “Your body is like a lightening rod.”

The whimsical and trippy “Raconte-Moi Une Historie” has producer, Justin Meldal-Johsen’s young daughter telling a story/dream about becoming a frog and how it would be silly if the entire world became best friends. The song is adorable and sends me back to the days of being a weird, creative 6-year-old reading and rereading The Little Prince over and over. ”Claudia Lewis” is another cheesy 80s jam with a thick Seinfeldish bass and sounds like a Ford & Lopatin track. The adrenaline fueled ”New Map,” has raw electric guitars, sparkling synths and beautiful choirs and is Hurry Up’s “Teen Angst.” The song finishes with jittery flutes - something new for M83. “OK Pal,” is a stadium track that is incredibly grand and vast; again we are treated to a dreamy monologue in the middle of the song: “We’re walking on the streets, or what’s left of them/ I take your hand and the city is slowly vanishing/ There’s no ground anymore, no cars,” the mysterious girl hazily tells us.  

“Year One, One UFO,” is a young song focused with bongos, a catchy guitar riff and random chants, but the track sticks out for all the right reasons. It makes me feel like running through the woods near my old house, playing tag with friends for hours on end. “Steven McQueen” uses stellar and emotional chord progressions and Gonzalez sings “I just can’t recognize myself.” Then we have, “Echoes of Mine,” which was the first taste we got of Hurry Up, way back in June. It still remains one of the most powerful and epic M83 tracks to date with its intense build ups and crashes it really does sound like it could be featured in a film. Even several of the interludes have amazing moments, (I usually despise interludes but on a 22 track, double-album they are necessary) such as “Train to Pluton,” “This Bright Flash,” and “Klaus I Love You.” However, I do wish they were developed into full songs as most of them have potential to be outstanding.

Like I said earlier, no double-album is perfect and Hurry Up is no exception. There is some fat to be cut here, like the Radiohead sounding “Wait,” the indie-Christmas song “Splendor,” “Soon My Friend,” and a few interludes like “Fountains” and “Another Wave From You.” Not that these are in any way terrible but the album would have sounded more concise without them and it is pretty evident that acoustic guitars do not fit the M83 aesthetic. Also the LP does not show Gonzalez’s finest songwriting abilities. While almost every track sounds amazing the lyrics and depth of the record become a little lost as he seems to be less focused on words, which is really unfortunate.  

Nevertheless, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is a satisfying LP and is the record that Gonzalez set out to make. It is drenched in several stages of life - young childhood, the confusing teens and even more confusing early adulthood, making it a truly transcendent album. M83’s music isn’t just a sound or a collection of songs, it is a feeling and a mood that can transport you to a single moment in your life; your first kiss, playing hide-and-seek in the neighborhood, watching your favorite sci-fi movie, getting drunk with friends, baking cookies, a fight with your boyfriend, getting lost in the big city and so much more. Sure most of Hurry Up’s songs could be (and have been) featured in films but it wasn’t made for that. Just like M83’s past albums, it was made to be the soundtrack to your life. 

Watch the video for M83’s “Midnight City,” below: