When M83 released Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, which included hit tracks like “Midnight City” and “Wait,” in 2011, the band skyrocketed into the limelight. The French electronic group gave a voice to an otherwise lowly genre, and it seemed as if it was never going to come down.
With its latest album, DSVII, M83, which is currently a one-man show of Anthony Gonzalez, reminds listeners the band is human and makes mistakes — a lot of them, in fact.
DSVII, a 15-track composition that’s solely instrumentals, signifies a shortened version of “Digital Shades Vol. 2.” Released in 2007, Digital Shades Vol 1 is M83’s fourth studio album, which also focuses on ambience — DSVII is a lesser version of it. “The inspiration behind this record is mainly video game music. … There is something so naive and touching about them. It’s simple and imperfect. And that’s exactly what I tried to achieve with DSVII,” Gonzalez said about the album.
Electronic music is supposed to bring out the inner workings of your thoughts. It dives deep and evokes emotions that otherwise stay hidden, and it somehow has the capability to consume your mind that words can sometimes fail to do. M83’s past works contained this competence, but DSVII, despite a few captivating moments, provides nothing other than bland, dispassionate music.
By the time you reach track 12, “Oh Yes You’re There, Everyday,” it seems as if you’ve already heard this at least a couple times before. The leading track, “Hell Riders,” which totals nearly seven minutes, is three minutes too long and the slowest possible beginning to an album. DSVII, every now and then, holds something worthwhile — but it’s not often enough.
Here are the only five songs off DSVII that are worth your time:
5. “Taifun Glory”
What sounds like the harmonies on Gregorian chant music makes an appearance on the majority of the album’s tracks, and “Taifun Glory” is no different. An exquisite piano-driven melody is besieged by these aggravating, bland and unneeded polyphonic noises. The track, however, stands out for its mesmerizingly dismal piano. It’s perfect studying music due to its soothing nature, but other than that, it’s only a go-to if you crave to slip into a gloomy state of mind.
4. “Temple of Sorrow”
Concluding the album is “Temple of Sorrow,” a track that tips just over seven minutes and boasts eccentric synths. Just like “Hell Riders,” this track starts at a slow pace. However, some pleasant polyphonic voices — unlike those in “Taifun Glory” — come in and turn the track completely around. It transforms into a beaming piece, and it conveys the passage of life: While sad times seem like they’ll last forever, they won’t because something brilliant is bound to come along and flip the script.
3. “Feelings”
Listeners can get a sense of M83’s musical diversity with “Feelings,” a lively track containing stimulating music from numerous instruments, including flutes. “Feelings” bounces back and forth from a melancholy to a gleaming mood, seemingly depicting the inevitable ups and downs of life. There are other sonically similar tracks on DSVII, but the harmonies throughout this piece are the most beautiful from the album.
2. “Lune de fiel”
One of the more energetic tracks on the album, “Lune de fiel” was released as a single and gave fans hope the rest of DSVII would be as enjoyable. While that didn’t come to fruition, the track still provides a glimmer of hope M83 hasn’t completely lost its splendor. It starts with eerie instrumentation that resembles that of a horror film before suddenly bursting into an uplifting synth party, complete with a groovy bass line and tremendous drumming. It’s simply infectious and one of the only tracks worthy of more than one listen.
1. “Colonies”
If “Taifun Glory” doesn’t instill any desolate feelings in you, “Colonies” will surely do the trick. Visualize the lowest point in your life transformed into music; the shock, the feeling you’ll never be restored to contentment, the agony — it all seems tangible within this measly track. It’s so painfully good, and goosebumps are inescapable. “Colonies” is reminiscent of the breathtaking pieces from M83’s early discography, which undoubtedly makes it the best on DSVII.
Rating: 2/5
