Album Review: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.

M83's frontman Anthony Gonzalez has frequently stated that the music of M83 isn't so much concerned with the present or even reality, so much as it is with representing idealized memories of the past. What content I have listened to in-relation to this group has a prevailing sense of adoration for youth, and the possibilities for both great joy and pain that are associated with this phase of life. While there are modern flourishes to M83's output, many of their musical leanings and their overall aesthetic are deeply rooted and grounded within the culture and music of the 70's and 80's, perhaps because these eras meld so seamlessly with the before-mentioned attitude towards adolescence and the world. When people of all ages think about their own perception of youth, cues from eras past, such as the film The Breakfast Club are more likely to come to mind than any sort of modern commentary on youth and the psychology and feel of it.

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. is distinctively less John Hughes than their prior release, Saturdays=Youth, though. This is hard to put into words, but if I were to compare Saturdays to a film, it would be The Breakfast Club, and if I were to do the same for Hurry Up, I might even compare it to a film such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the child-like wonder that it exhibits. Much like its predecessor, it is filled with mechanical drums, and retro-sounding synthesizers, but, what is different here, is that Hurry Up is notably more "big" than the more subdued nature of Saturdays. M83's newest is also quite a bit more eclectic than previous releases, sporting its wide array of influences with pride. Musical cues such as 80's pop and even more Kraut-esque synth leanings reminiscent of Tangerine Dream are apparent. Both the synth anthems such as "Midnight City" and more subdued ballad-type songs such as "Wait" are equally effective, representing a group that is able to musically represent a variety of emotions, vibes, and paces.

While nostalgia and melancholy still flow freely through this album's veins, there is also a more distinct wave of hope and innocence present here. Almost as if Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. is tapping into a greater sense of childlike wonder and innocence, as compared to a more cynical teenage outlook. Along with this subtle shift in tone, the most instantly noticeable difference here is Anthony's vocal delivery. Rather than utilizing a more whispered vocal of previous releases (which is still used here, in moderation), Anthony has adapted a much more powerful high-pitched vocal, similar in style to Sting, or in the more recent musical climate, Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend.

Ultimately, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. is a wonderfully effective piece of escapist, synth-heavy, pop music. Its complete lack of interest in reality is what ultimately makes for such a cathartic experience. Lovely music, here.

C.W.