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Entertainment
Prior to becoming an ‘80s-influenced pop endeavor, the group shared greater similarities with Mogwai.
Prior to becoming an ‘80s-influenced pop endeavor, the group shared greater similarities with Mogwai.
Last week, New York City was battered by a tremendous snowstorm. Inevitably, as I observe the snow tumble, exploring the strangely silent streets after dark, with people tucked away and keeping warm, I reach for M83’s second album, Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.
Before Nicolas Fromageau departed the group and Anthony Gonzalez adopted conventional pop song frameworks, saxophone interludes, and youthful angst, M83 released a pair of albums primarily filled with instrumentals. The self-titled first album is somewhat forgettable, while the second showcases the French duo drawing influence from the repetitive grandeur reminiscent of Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Dead Cities brings a distinctly French flavor to post-rock opulence, fabricating layers of sound through drum machines, analog synthesizers, and heavily compressed guitars.
There’s an air of liminality in Dead Cities, an eerie vibe that truly reflects its title. While listening to the softly looping melody of “Be Wild” as it gradually accumulates layers, it’s hard not to envision strolling through a once-thriving metropolis now eerily deserted. “America” encapsulates the anxiety of The Twilight Zone’s “Where Is Everybody?” with its frantic drums, guitar reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine, and disquieting synth sounds leading to an early peak.
From the very beginning, you can sense something amiss. The album opens with “Birds,” a chant lasting 54 seconds:
Sun is shining
Birds are singing
Flowers are growing
Clouds are looming and I am flying
The synthetic voice initially enveloped in digital distortion gradually clarifies into a comforting tone that feels inherently deceptive. There is no sunshine. There are no birds. And there are no blossoms. The record starts off with dishonesty before kicking into the standout track “Unrecorded.”
“Unrecorded” appears to encapsulate the album’s essence. Analog arpeggios, assertive drums, droning guitars, modified vocals, and cinematic synthesizer strings coalesce into a wall of snow-laden sound. When listening to tracks like this, it’s astonishing that it took Hollywood another decade to recruit M83 for a film score (2013’s Oblivion).
M83 would eventually delve into shoegaze-influenced retro pop, achieving hits like “Kim & Jessie” and the undeniably popular “Midnight City.” However, prior to that, the band ventured into a more cinematic and expansive realm.
Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts is obtainable on Bandcamp and various streaming services including Apple Music, YouTube Music, Qobuz, Deezer, and Spotify.
