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Product Description
Review
The double album: it carries a cold dread and an uneasy anticipation tinged with pessimism, the grim prospect of a double dose of suffering or generous reward. It's often the indulgent point of no return for an artist; but for Anthony Gonzalez, the beating heart at the core of M83, it's no great departure from what's typically preceded it.
A man comfortable exploring an infinite and ever-amplifying ambition to blissful new planes, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming arrives as a natural point in M83's often transcendent progression. After the all-consuming beauty of 2008's Saturdays = Youth, this feels like the double-barrelled statement designed to propel Gonzalez to the stars. But whatever the album(s) lack(s) in narrative due to the gargantuan track-listing, Gonzalez's single-mindedness and dreamy tenacity is enough to see the experience through to a resounding climax.
Asked to treat the release as two separate entities, it's a point of importance to Gonzalez that this album is considered to be more than just a single body of work, and something infinitely more coherent than a simple collection of tracks. It's a fine, comprehensive line to tread, and in many respects marks the album as the quintessential M83 timeline distilled, deconstructed and ostentatiously blown out all over again.
But where the sheer volume of tracks makes Hurry Up, We're Dreaming a potentially daunting prospect, there's a wonderful delight in the majestic builds and breakdowns of Midnight City; the scale and exultant splendour of Steve McQueen; the driving power of OK Pal; and the epic, reverb-drenched flourishes of My Tears Are Becoming a Sea. They're grandiose reminders that when Gonzalez wants to reduce you to a sighing ball of pulse, blood and bone, he will with breathtaking force and grace.
Those tracks alone are worthy of underpinning any great album, but subsequently there's a sense that Gonzalez has been undermined (albeit not undone) by his own grand ambitions. There's the obvious case that if the filler was cut, we might have a masterpiece on our hands; but that's not a salient point here because Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is about personal ambition - it's a brave attempt to push already innovative boundaries and to create something more powerful than what's come before.
While some consistency may have been sacrificed in favour of a space-filling selection of tracks, this set still represents a heaving, breathing journey through the introspective and the bombastic, the striving and the exhaustive. It is the undeniable sound of one man's triumphant dreams.
--Reef Younis
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Product Description
2CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Disgrace
Format:Audio CD
'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming' may go down as the towering achievement of Anthony Gonzalez' career. A recent move to L.A complete, he has stated continually that he is mentally in a better place than ever and it shows. With his epic soundscapes, an infinite resource of nostalgia and inspiration to draw upon and newly found confidence in his ability as a lead vocalist, it's no wonder that a double album was the result. Gonzalez has thrust himself into the limelight in this latest, most personal and greatest M83 offering yet.
Despite it's length, the album is made extremely accessible by endless variation in the mood, length and pace of the tracks. Thick slices of shoegaze/synthpop cake are separated by sober instrumentals, vocal-led tracks ('Wait'), poppy [potential] singles ('Midnight City', 'OK Pal', 'Steve McQueen') as well as the progressive/uplifting 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire'. The surprises are not merely confined to the structure of the album, but are also on the tracks. 'Midnight City' is blessed by a spontaneous saxophone solo, 'Reunion' by crashing drums and 'Claudia Lewis' gets double bass treatment when you least expect it.
The mix of electronic and organic is seamless and soulful, despite imagining how many hours were spent delicately tinkering every aspect in the studio. It has been perfected with as much loving care as it has ambition; the meaning of the lyrics ranges from deeply rooted to dreamy and as far away as the origin of the band name. 'Echoes of Mine' contains a monologue in French and 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire' a little girl reciting a story about a magic frog; it is delightfully innocent. The extent to which the album is personal to M83 makes it easier, and more fun, to associate with.
Minor criticisms would be that the album never escapes an 80s dream-pop vibe, so if you are not a fan then this album is not for you. Likewise not all instrumental tracks, despite how they are as integral to the album as much as the conventional ones, are never going to be as interesting. Six in total over the two discs is certainly close to the upper limit.
'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming' is surely a contender for best album of the year. It's would be as much as Gonzalez' ambition, and the beautiful end result, deserves.
Highlights: 'Midnight City', 'Reunion', 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire', 'Claudia Lewis'.
Despite it's length, the album is made extremely accessible by endless variation in the mood, length and pace of the tracks. Thick slices of shoegaze/synthpop cake are separated by sober instrumentals, vocal-led tracks ('Wait'), poppy [potential] singles ('Midnight City', 'OK Pal', 'Steve McQueen') as well as the progressive/uplifting 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire'. The surprises are not merely confined to the structure of the album, but are also on the tracks. 'Midnight City' is blessed by a spontaneous saxophone solo, 'Reunion' by crashing drums and 'Claudia Lewis' gets double bass treatment when you least expect it.
The mix of electronic and organic is seamless and soulful, despite imagining how many hours were spent delicately tinkering every aspect in the studio. It has been perfected with as much loving care as it has ambition; the meaning of the lyrics ranges from deeply rooted to dreamy and as far away as the origin of the band name. 'Echoes of Mine' contains a monologue in French and 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire' a little girl reciting a story about a magic frog; it is delightfully innocent. The extent to which the album is personal to M83 makes it easier, and more fun, to associate with.
Minor criticisms would be that the album never escapes an 80s dream-pop vibe, so if you are not a fan then this album is not for you. Likewise not all instrumental tracks, despite how they are as integral to the album as much as the conventional ones, are never going to be as interesting. Six in total over the two discs is certainly close to the upper limit.
'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming' is surely a contender for best album of the year. It's would be as much as Gonzalez' ambition, and the beautiful end result, deserves.
Highlights: 'Midnight City', 'Reunion', 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire', 'Claudia Lewis'.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Avg Joe
Format:Audio CD
Just about everything to do with this release is big: the sound, the production, the 2CDs, the expectations, the artist AG's ambition and chutzpah. Thankfully, it really lives up to the hype, and is among the top contenders for album of the year. It's meant to be played loud over earphones or in some cavernous empty building, and it's there that the LP transports you to new spaces.
Like other M83 offerings, it offers the usual fast rock and roll cum keyboards tracks (This Bright Flash, New Map), interspersed between long slow instrumentals, usually sounds of organs and piano, seemingly in a cathedral, some desperately moving inexorably towards crescendoes (Another wave).
Lots of good stuff get thrown in: more AG vocals, ballads, some fairly pop-minded ditties, RnB basslines and doowopping, horns, cowbells.
Virtues: definitely CD1. Both CDs are strong, but the 'intro,' 'wait' and 'midnight city' really set the table. CD2 is slower, more inward looking. The arrangement of tracks is also superb -- like a good rollercoaster, with big thunderous highs. Ends beautifully with 'outro.' To this ear, not much filler.
Best tracks: Intro, Midnight City, Steve McQueen, Wait, Outro
On the minus side: The packaging is a little underwhelming and the imagery has a Donnie Darko vibe, which is fitting but only in a cheesy, formulaic sort of way. Like the last LP (Saturdays = Youth), it recalls the artificial nostalgia of teenagehood, and new- and dark-ness of teen angst. Also, not sure about 'Raconte-moi,' which plays on AG's more theatre-pop seen elsewhere (e.g., Before the Dawn's Car chase terror); it's certainly possibly a situational like, but sounds like a commercial for life cover.
Overall, sounds like: some parts Peter Gabriel, pre-90s Bowie, Talk Talk, some parts Ride and other shoegaze. The general spirit of the opus follows that of Saturdays = Youth, but there are some tracks that are explosive and unsettling, a la Dead Cities or Before the Dawn. One definitely sees the artist maturing, branching out and lording over his dominion.
Like other M83 offerings, it offers the usual fast rock and roll cum keyboards tracks (This Bright Flash, New Map), interspersed between long slow instrumentals, usually sounds of organs and piano, seemingly in a cathedral, some desperately moving inexorably towards crescendoes (Another wave).
Lots of good stuff get thrown in: more AG vocals, ballads, some fairly pop-minded ditties, RnB basslines and doowopping, horns, cowbells.
Virtues: definitely CD1. Both CDs are strong, but the 'intro,' 'wait' and 'midnight city' really set the table. CD2 is slower, more inward looking. The arrangement of tracks is also superb -- like a good rollercoaster, with big thunderous highs. Ends beautifully with 'outro.' To this ear, not much filler.
Best tracks: Intro, Midnight City, Steve McQueen, Wait, Outro
On the minus side: The packaging is a little underwhelming and the imagery has a Donnie Darko vibe, which is fitting but only in a cheesy, formulaic sort of way. Like the last LP (Saturdays = Youth), it recalls the artificial nostalgia of teenagehood, and new- and dark-ness of teen angst. Also, not sure about 'Raconte-moi,' which plays on AG's more theatre-pop seen elsewhere (e.g., Before the Dawn's Car chase terror); it's certainly possibly a situational like, but sounds like a commercial for life cover.
Overall, sounds like: some parts Peter Gabriel, pre-90s Bowie, Talk Talk, some parts Ride and other shoegaze. The general spirit of the opus follows that of Saturdays = Youth, but there are some tracks that are explosive and unsettling, a la Dead Cities or Before the Dawn. One definitely sees the artist maturing, branching out and lording over his dominion.
By MG UK
Format:MP3 Download
I've always loved buying whole albums and experiencing the world and soundscapes created by the artist. Such a thing is rare these days and one of quality even rarer. Hurry up we are Dreaming does the job. A wonderful piece of work from start to finish.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
OMG!
This album is hard to describe as it seems to be trying to do so much. It seems to be a work of tremendous ambition and power. Read more
Published 26 days ago by phil keeler
5.0 out of 5 stars
great cd
all the standard tracks on this with an additional cd with great remix versions; little more expensive than regular version but worth it in my opinion
Published 2 months ago by luke, london
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic album
Great album. Love it so much that I actually bought this as a gift for my brother, so he could get into it as well.
Published 2 months ago by John Catty
5.0 out of 5 stars
You know how you buy an album on the strength of one track...?
Well I wasn't disappointed. Midnight City drew me in, receiving lots of AirPlay on different radio stations and being frequently picked for TV accompaniment to bits and bobs. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. M. Stickley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Album
I love m83 and you certainly get alot of tracks for your money (two CDs), very good music to relax.
Published 4 months ago by S
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very exciting musical discovery! This album is so uplifting
I have not been as excited about a new album in a very long time. Like most people, I suspect, I was attracted to M83 when
I first heard Midnight City, which is just a... Read more
I first heard Midnight City, which is just a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hannah Dexter
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing and Unusual
I've never heard anything like it. I bought it because of 'Midnight City' and took a chance with the other songs. That's still the best track, but both CDs are amazing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jack Goldsmith
4.0 out of 5 stars
great album
With the crap thats getting churned out at the moment its great to find a album like this one that your able to listen to time and time again. Read more
Published 7 months ago by mark w
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the price for 'Wait' alone.
I'm not familiar with a lot of M83's previous work, but I bought this simply because I heard the track 'Wait'. One of the most moving tracks I have ever heard in my life. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Reviewer 21702
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I really liked previous albums by M83. Very Disappointed with this one
Have listed to this many times now and everytime I finish listening, I feel that there was nothing... Read more
Have listed to this many times now and everytime I finish listening, I feel that there was nothing... Read more
Published 11 months ago by West
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