M83 - Saturdays=Youth *

Artist:

M83

Description:

M83: Anthony Gonzalez (vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, bass guitar); Morgan Kibby (vocals, piano, keyboards); Loic Maurin (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, percussion).
Personnel: Ewen Pearson (keyboards).
Recording information: Rockfield Studios, Whales, England.
On SATURDAYS = YOUTH, the 2008 follow-up to the ambient-leaning DIGITAL SHADES VOL. 1, M83 mastermind Anthony Gonzalez wanders with his synth-pop muse into a dreamy, expansive realm populated by characters from John Hughes films. (See the cover art for evidence.) Though many 21st-century acts incorporate a 1980s influence with some level of winking irony, Gonzalez takes inspiration from that keyboard-loving decade and uses it with utter sincerity, as best exemplified by "Kim & Jessie," a soaring romantic anthem that nods to peak-era Tears for Fears and Simple Minds.
At times gleefully melodramatic (see the oddly sunny goth number "Graveyard Girl"), YOUTH fully embraces Gonzalez`s dense, maximalist aesthetic, a sound that he showcases best on the pulsing "Couleurs," a heavily layered synthesizer workout, and "We Own the Sky," a majestic track that steadily moves towards the heavens via keyboard propulsion. Clearly M83`s most focused and pop-savvy outing, YOUTH should appeal to Gonzalez`s faithful fans, while also drawing new listeners into his mesmerizing aural landscapes.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. You, Appearing
2. Kim & Jessie
3. Skin of the Night
4. Graveyard Girl
5. Couleurs
6. Up!
7. We Own the Sky
8. Highway of Endless Dreams
9. Too Late
10. Dark Moves of Love
11. Midnight Souls Still Remain

Album Information

Release Date:

04/15/2008

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Electronic

Label:

Mute Records

Producer:

Ewen Pearson; Ken Thomas; Anthony Gonzalez

Catalog Number:

9384-2

Original Release Year:

2008

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

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