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Sep 05, 2019 M83 By Christopher Roberts

M83 (aka Anthony Gonzalez) is releasing a new album, DSVII, on September 20 via Mute. Now he has shared its first single, “Temple of Sorrow,” via a video for the track that is also the first part of Extazus, which is a three-part short film inspired by the music of DSVII that was directed by Bertrand Mandico (a French experimental director). The other two parts will be released weekly. Watch “Temple of Sorrow” (aka part 1 of Extazus) below. Also below is the audio for the track, if you want to listen without the dialogue and sound effects from the film.

Also, for those fans in New York City, Mute is hosting a listening session for DSVII at SONOS’ store at at 101 Greene Street, New York, NY on September 9 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. RSVP here.

DSVII is the sequel to 2007’s ambient music album Digital Shades Vol. 1 and is inspired by early video game soundtracks, the music from ‘80s sci-fi/fantasy films, and the work of Brian Eno, Suzanne Ciani, Mort Garson, and John Carpenter. DSVII was recorded using only analog equipment in the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018. It was put together at both Gonzalez’s Los Angeles studio and the Glendale, California studio of Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Nine Inch Nails, Beck).

Gonzalez had this to say about the album in a previous press release: “During the summer of 2017, I spent five months in Cap d’Antibes, France. I mainly spent my time swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, reading, watching films and playing ‘80s video games. The inspiration behind this record is mainly video game music. It felt so refreshing to play all of these old school games again. There is something so naive and touching about them. It’s simple and imperfect. And this is exactly what I tried to achieve with DSVII.”

M83’s last full-on studio album was Junk, which was our fourth favorite album of 2016. We posted two reviews of Junk, one mixed and one rave. Also read our 2016 in-depth cover story on M83.

Although back in March M83 released the soundtrack for the film Knife + Heart, a movie directed by Gonzalez’s brother, Yann Gonzalez. Knife + Heart found Anthony Gonzalez collaborating with original M83 member Nicolas Fromageau for the first time since M83’s first two full-length releases, 2001’s self-titled studio and 2003’s Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.

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