posted by Michael on August 15, 2011
You close your eyes. Like roaring sirens on the horizon, a melancholy synth swells up through the darkness. The air is thick with anticipation. You feel a cold bead of sweat break past your ear. Drums crash through the neon tainted wind, ushering in a storm of throbbing beats and grinding synths. Windows shatter, and glass like rain invades the asphalt. The city surrenders under such immensity of sound. The clock strikes midnight; you awake. I imagine a similar scenario might have compelled Anthony Gonzalez, leader and founder of French band M83, to write “Midnight City.”
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (out October 18th) is M83’s sixth record to date, marking an ambitious return after nearly two years of absence. “Midnight City” is stuck between a daydream and a nightmare, mixing delicate vocals and jarring electronics, alternatively haunting and catchy. The track opens with a deceivingly simplistic melody; two fluctuating synths soon merge to form a chorus. The drums then intervene, building to an infectious crescendo that evolves throughout the song, growing to mimic the very beat of a thriving urban jungle. The vocals glide effortlessly above the instrumentation, with lyrics presenting a dreamlike description of a common night out. The saxophone finale is a climactic moment of pure magic, adding a distinctive retro touch to an otherwise flawless modern classic.
M83 – Midnight City (Downloaded 1191 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Catchy • Dischordant • Electro • Psychedelic • Synth • With Bleeps & Blips
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