By Abigail Lynn Davidson
M83’s sound is all about the build. This EP is no different.
Often with bands from the indie pop renaissance that was the period surrounding the ’08 recession, their new releases have been a little disappointing. They struggle to find their footing in the thin area between nostalgia and innovation. The genre has been struggling with this since around 2012-13.
That’s starting to change. Maybe it’s because of the current economic climate, but recession indie pop is back. I was already beginning to think that when Phoenix released their new album (which I reviewed back in November), but M83’s Fantasy – Chapter 1 confirms it.
This “chapter” is the first release in the lead up to the a full length album, releasing March 17, 2023. It’s about the length of an EP.
I’m writing this review while on a plane, on my way to Nashville. This album is fitting for where I am, it’s adventurous, unpredictable. He manage to make every song have a value of its own, but when listened to in one sitting, the album has a similar structure to a story. It’s got the setup, the building intensity, a climax, and a resolution.
I’m finding it quite hard to separate the songs from one another, because they don’t feel the same without each other. I’ll try anyways.
We open on an acoustic guitar in “Water Deep”. It’s slowly building, for three minutes, just the right blend from acoustic into electronica. It’s a perfect setup for “Oceans Niagara”, one my favorites.
“Oceans Niagara” feels like it could be a B-side to Hurry Up We’re Dreaming. It has a quality about it that makes you want to do something new. It feels like the beginning of an adventure. Like you’re in a new chapter of life, or maybe just a new place. “Amnesia” follows, and if I had to pick a single it’d be this song. Actually, I did pick. I opened the 73rd episode of outliers with this song. It’s just poppy enough to work for radio. It’s the only song on this album that I would listen to on its own. It’s still got that M83 sound, but it’s just commercial enough.
The beginning of “Us And The Rest” is calm. It’s a needed relief, at least for the first two minutes. It’s just a little bit of rest to prepare you for what’s ahead. If this was an adventure movie, this is the part where the main character has some kind of resolve, and then gears up for the final challenge or battle. It builds just when you’re ready for it.
“Earth To Sea”. It’s the climax of this story. It feels like it should play right when the good guys get the upper hand, after all seems lost. When you listen to the album in order, this song feels earned. He could’ve put this song first, but chose to make us wait. I respect that, I think it makes the listener appreciate it more.
The story still needs a resolution. It comes in “Radar, Far, Gone”. We hear the acoustic guitar from the first song, it’s a little less peppy this time. Not sad, but maybe a little bittersweet about approaching the end. This is the only song with an acoustic instrument throughout. It’s a needed relief to a very intense album.
I don’t really know what else I can say, but my plane’s about to land, so I’m stopping here. Go listen to this album.
Rated eight out of ten.