For an outfit originating in France, M83 rarely makes that obvious, as they have always shown quite a bit of outside influence.
And although their latest release, Digital Shades, Vol. 1, is meant (or at least is marketed) as an ancillary release in preparation of their upcoming "proper" studio record, it presents the perfect opportunity to showcase their previously hinted at debt to ambient pioneers who have come before. Anthony Gonzalez, now the primary figure head behind the group, has crafted a mini-laptop symphony for insomniacs.
There are two things a listener will first notice upon hearing Digital Shades. First, is that although much of the sound and tenor from previous albums is readily apparent, the pace and mood have deliberately been dialed down to something less than a crawl. This is the slow, meditative side of M83, and will bear little resemblance to its most recent advertisement placements. Granted, many of these tracks could have easily played as interlude pieces from past records (especially "By The Kiss"). But having a long player dedicated to nothing but is... well, it's nice actually.
The second thing an astute listener will pick up on is an obvious nod to the Brian Eno school of ambience. Just think of this as "Ambient 5: Music For Slow-Motion Loving." Often copied and frequently bested, Eno is similar to John Cage. He has probably inspired and influenced more artists than his own output should merit. But his ideas for a musical landscape have become revolutionary calling cards. But ideas can be powerful things, and as this now third generation of musicians continues to carry the torch, it would appear that the ideas are in good hands.
The opener for the album, "Waves, Waves, Waves", is both familiar M83 ground and representative of this current set. An elegiac, almost organ-like pad is repeated over the sounds of lightly rolling waves. "Sister (Part 1)" is equally glacial, and captures some of the slower moments from their Dead Cities... album. "Coloring The Void" and "Sister (Part 2) continue the flow, but adding in some vocal layers to the palette, fully realized with Gonzalez's trademark falsetto. "Strong and Wasted" adds a bit of distorted texture that is another basis for their sound. In fact, most of the elements of previous M83 work are intact, just at drastically reduced BPM.
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