M83, the French electronic music project fronted by Anthony Gonzalez, is back with their latest album "Fantasy". This record marks a new direction for M83, moving away from their more atmospheric and dreamy soundscapes towards a more straightforward pop approach. "Fantasy" is a 13-track album that showcases M83's evolution, blending nostalgic synths and retro beats with modern electronic production and anthemic choruses.
The album opens with "Water Deep," a dreamy instrumental track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. It's followed by "Oceans Niagara," a track that features a lush soundscape with soaring synths and beautiful drums. "Amnesia" is a more upbeat track with a catchy chorus that will have listeners singing along in no time. "Us and the Rest" slows things down with a melancholic ballad that features a simple acoustic guitar and introspective lyrics.
“M83 - Fantasy" is a playful and optimistic album that explores themes of childhood, wonder, and nostalgia.”
"Earth to Sea" is a gorgeous track that features a haunting melody and a beautiful arrangement of synths and strings. "Radar, Far, Gone" is a slow and dreamy track with great harmonies that will get the listener to float away into space. "Deceiver" is more of a happy track with a haunting vocal performance and banger drums that comes later in the song.
The title track "Fantasy" is a standout on the album, featuring a lush soundscape with shimmering synths and a soaring chorus that feels like a call to arms. "Laura" is another highlight, with a pulsing beat and catchy hooks that will have listeners dancing along. "Sunny Boy" is a playful track that features a retro funk groove and catchy vocal hooks.
"Kool Nuit" slows things down with a dreamy song that features a delicate synth melody and spacey vocals. "Sunny Boy Part 2" is a reprise of the earlier track, featuring a more stripped-down arrangement with a focus on the vocals. Finally, the album closes with "Dismemberment Bureau," a slow track that features a beautiful arrangement of synths and strings with some robot vocals that appears into the last track.
Overall, "Fantasy" is a stunning album that showcases M83's evolution as an artist. While the dreamy soundscapes of their earlier work are still present, this album sees M83 exploring a more pop-oriented sound that is both nostalgic and modern. The lush arrangements and anthemic choruses make this album a must-listen for fans of electronic music and pop alike.