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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dream of a record come true, 19 Mar 2008
This fourth M83 LP takes on where the previous "Before The Dawn..." left off, but an even larger room was made this time for ethereal vocals, whether male or female. From the startling opening "You, Appearing", you know you're in for something special; the subtle trickery of previous works is here, but serves the purpose in a much more soulful (dare I say "human") way.
Tracks such as "Kim & Jessie" (which could provide a nice indie-pop summer hit) or "Up!" sound like how the last (brilliant ortherwise) Goldfrapp LP could have been up to if they had kept their electronic craft, while "Dark Moves Of Love" is the epitome of shoegazing albeit turned to 11 (like the Cocteau Twins jamming with Mercury Rev, if you see what I mean). But the key track here, still, is the forthcoming single, "Couleurs", which, with his obsessive rhythm construction and guitar/keyboards collusive maelstrom, will take you to another level of hypnose and excitement, to heights rarely reached by electronic acts.
A few 80's tricks in the arrangements can't even distract from the fact "Saturdays=Youth" (not such a cryptic title, if you think) is pop as what it always should be; sing-a-long melodies and innovative soundscapes everywhere.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Saturdays = Youth = an essential album, 9 April 2009
It is maybe because I am of a similar age to M83's Anthony Gonzalez that the themes and aesthetics of 'Saturday = Youth' resonate so strongly. This album is drenched with 80's inspiration and takes its atmospheric cues from the likes of Cocteau Twins, the post punk band The Chameleons (give their second album 'What Does Anything Mean? Basically' a listen - the opener 'Silence, Sea & Sky' in particular could have been plucked straight from an M83 album) as well as an obvious nod to 'Hounds of Love' era Kate Bush.
In some respects, the album is comparable to the work of Boards of Canada. That is not to say that M83's compositions resemble the mood or sonic palette of BoC particularly ('Music Has the Right to Children' was menacing and claustrophobic, 'Saturdays = Youth' is light and airy), it is more the sense of delicious nostalgia that each act expertly taps into.
There is a shamelessly heartfelt sincerity to these tracks, which is extremely refreshing given the number of bands that are currently adopting an 80's influenced sound but are far too self aware and engrossed in cool posturing to cut loose and have fun with it.
The whole album is an absolute delight, but a special mention for 'You, Appearing', 'Kim & Jessie', 'We Own the Sky' and 'Dark Moves of Love'.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Pay To Look Cheap, 2 Mar 2010
Countless musicians have humanized electronic sounds by generating tones that feel warm or organic (Four Tet, Towers of Asia), but M83 have undertaken a different challenge: to convey beauty through the familiar, filtered buzz of the kind of cheap synthesizers usually found in techno and dance tracks.
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