M83 – Saturdays=Youth
This is the second record Anthony Gonzalez has made as the sole genius behind the M83 name. Anthony did not do this alone. He got production assistance on Saturdays=Youth came from Ewan Pearson and Ken Thomas. They have produced such works as Sigur Ros and The Rapture. There has been some buzz about these songs as Anthony has gone for a traditional structure for his songs. While, there is moments on the record that follow a certain rigger just look at the first single “Graveyard Girl.” That does not take anything away from this sweet record. In some cases it even enhances the record.
The record does shy away from the digital arena and turns to a sythn based 80s sound in a lot of the songs. The sound has already turned away a few fans. But, this new shift in the sound makes each song really pop out at you.
“You, Appearing” starts off the album with a stretched out and atmospheric sound. A young falsetto vocal in the background of this complex backdrop is an interesting introduction for the album because ever so quickly the sound shifts away from that. “Kim & Jessie” hits your right out of the gates with some pounding drums and hooky sythn line. As the build up to the chorus is going you might thing a bigger payoff would ensue but sadly its still just picks up slightly. “Skin of the Night” takes things back a bit with a quietly and eerie tune with a great vocal to compliment. “Graveyard Girl” just keeps growing on me and it is a song that I have been going back to a lot. The song deals with a young girl as show in the breakdown with that frighting aside about how she feels it all to late for her. “Couleurs” is a feast of sounds being blasted in your ears lead by a charging sythn line. “We Own The Sky” is another beautiful piece of ambient magic. The song takes on a journey for fives minutes slowly building and make a lot of quick movements. “Too Late” is a really minimal and sparse but portrays this odd level of elegance and beauty in the notes. “Midnight Souls Still Remain” carries out the album with a massive eleven minute ambient piece with not a lot of movements or changes.
The album might turn a few people off as there is a lot of variety and things you might not expect from an M83 record. “Saturdays=Youth” is one of the finest albums of this half of the year as it gives you everything you could want: songs to fall asleep to, songs to lift you and songs for…well I can go on and on.
By John Siwicki
