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Sep 20, 2019 By Christopher Roberts M83

M83 (aka Anthony Gonzalez) has released a new album, DSVII, today via Mute. Now that the album is out, you can stream the whole thing below.

A three-part short film, Extazus, directed by Bertrand Mandico (a French experimental director), accompanied the album. Gonzalez had this to say about the album and short film in a press release: “In a way, I’m taking a lot of risks in releasing this album. Bertrand was perfect, he loves risks. He’s really underground but has grand ideas. His aesthetic is very pure and mystical. He’s been able to tell a really strange story with imagery that doesn’t really fit into our modern society, which I love.”

Previously M83 shared DSVII‘s first single, “Temple of Sorrow,” via a video for the track that is also the first part of Extazus. “Temple of Sorrow” was one of our Songs of the Week. Then M83 shared its second single, “Lune De Fiel,” via a video for the track that is also the second part of Extazus. Then M83 shared its third single, “Feelings,” via a bizarre (slightly NSFW) video for the track that was also the third and final part of Extazus,

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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