HIGHWAY OF ENDLESS DREAMS

Anthony Gonzalez aka M83′s new album Saturdays = Youth has made its way onto the interweb a couple weeks prior to its release (April 15th via Mute), and after a few listens I’m completely hooked. I’ve been a casual fan of Gonzalez’ albums, never dug very deep into them, probably out of sheer laziness. It’s lush, warm and full sounding, and references mid-90′s electronic music at times (see lead single Couleurs). It may isolate his die-hard fans (there is some cheesy vocals that will grate their nerves), but in actuality its a huge leap forward, the perfect marriage of shoegaze and 90s dance. The album was co-produced by Ken Thomas (who has worked with Sigur Ros, Suede) and Ewan Pearson (The Rapture and Ladytron).

M83 are heading out on a full band short North American tour. His band will include Gonzalez on vocals, guitars and keyboards, Loic Maurin on drums, Pierre-Marie Maulini on bass and guitar and featured album vocalist Morgan Kibby (of LA-based band The Romanovs) on vocals and keyboards. Dates are as follows:

Tue 5/20 – Los Angeles – Echoplex
Wed 5/21 – San Francisco – Great American Music Hall
Fri 5/23 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
Sat 5/24 – Vancouver – Richards on Richards
Sun 5/25 – Seattle – Neumos
Wed 5/28 – Minneapolis – Triple Rock Club
Thu 5/29 – Chicago – Empty Bottle
Fri 5/30 – Toronto – The Mod Club
Sat 5/31 – Montreal – Cabaret Music Hall
Mon 6/2 – Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs
Tue 6/3 – Brooklyn – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Wed 6/4 – NYC – Bowery Ballroom
Fri 6/6 – Philadelphia – First Unitarian Church
Sat 6/7 – Washington, DC Black Cat