M83 - Saturdays = Youth

An album I've been digging lately is Saturdays = Youth by M83.

In 2003, Frenchmen Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau enjoyed international acclaim for Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, a luscious blend of shoegaze aesthetics, ambient pop, and progressive textures. But M83 had been around since at least 2001, when they issued their self-titled debut through the tiny but tastemaking French label Gooom. The success of Dead Cities, Red Seas brought attention not only to M83, but Gooom, too, and suddenly glitchy, sleek, and vaguely psychedelic artists like Cyann & Ben were enjoying (deserved) exposure alongside M83. Fromageau departed the project for solo work after the second album, and Gonzalez returned to the studio for a follow-up. When Before the Dawn Heals Us appeared in January 2005, the addition of vocals and more consistent rhythms made it M83's most cohesive album yet. Gonzalez worked with producers Ewan Pearson and Ken Thomas on Saturdays = Youth, which was released in April 2008.

If you like Shoegaze, Alternative and good Pop mixed with Electronic music then give it a listen. Link below.

Old fans will note a substantial difference between the new album and the previous releases; Saturdays = Youth is more shoegaze-y in texture and more pop in construction. While the galactic, deep space vibe is still there (frontman Anthony Gonzalez loves those distorted synths!), the overall aesthetic is more Cocteau Twins a la My Bloody Valentine rather than another addition to the towering electronic post-rock tradition that Mogwai and Sigur Rós perfected.

The record specifically tackles "how it feels to be dazed, confused and 15 years old" and, says Gonzalez, draws heavily from the likes of "Tears For Fears and Cocteau Twins, as well as classic John Hughes teen movies" Recorded with Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros, Sugar Cubes, Cocteau Twins) and Ewan Pearson (The Rapture, Ladytron). - Anthem.

Click here. Oh, if you listen to it, let me know what you think.