M83 Sheds Light on "Very Epic" Double Album

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Jun 6, 2011

It's been a while since we've heard any more details from French electro-dream pop act M83 about the follow-up to 2008's gorgeous, '80s-inspired set Saturdays = Youth. It seems like the wait has been worth it, though. If you were expecting main man Anthony Gonzalez to have trimmed down the speculated 22 songs he was working on last fall, though, guess again. Turns out this thing is going to be epic.

"It's a double album," Gonzalez told Spin, before diving into the themes of the lengthy record. "It's mainly about dreams, how every one is different, how you dream differently when you're a kid, a teenager, or an adult. I'm really proud of it. If you're doing a very long album, all the songs need to be different and I think I've done that with this one. Overall, it's pop -- and very epic. Anyone who loved M83 before, they'll love this album even more. People that hated me, they're going to hate this, too."

Gonzalez, who recently moved from Antibes, France to Los Angeles, hasn't nailed down all the specifics, including album and song titles, but he did wrap up mixing the record two weeks ago. He has also shared a list of guest musicians, from goth chanteuse Zola Jesus to Nine Inch Nails bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen to regular contributor Morgan Kibby, who sang many of Saturdays = Youth's memorable hooks. For his part, Gonzalez feels his own vocals are much improved on this latest set of songs.

"All the vocals on older records was very quiet and whispery," he said. "This time, I feel more like a singer, even if I'm not a great singer. There's so much improvement in my vocals. People will be surprised."

Sonically, the musician testifies that the double set will take the slick, synth pop elements of Saturdays = Youth, the ambient styles of 2005's Before the Dawn Heals Us and adds new elements to the formula, from interludes between tracks to the plucks of an acoustic guitar.

Having wrapped the album, which is set for a fall release, the artist is looking forward to doing some more soundtrack work in his new California digs, though hopefully he has more luck than with his score for L'Autre Monde (Black Heaven), which he called a "shitty soundtrack" for a "shitty movie."

Latest Coverage