M83's lush, expansive sound already made their albums feel twice as big as they were, so an actual double album from Anthony Gonzalez and company was inevitable.
However, on Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, he doesn’t use that extra space to top the widescreen nostalgia of Saturdays = Youth; instead, he fills it with songs that cover more sounds and moods than any of M83's previous work, resulting in impressionistic moments that add up to a grand statement.
The album begins with two songs that reaffirm Gonzalez's flair for the unapologetically epic.
He recruits Zola Jesus for "Intro," and her unusual mix of frostbitten edge and vulnerable warmth is a perfect conduit for the huge emotions Gonzalez favors.
With its sleek neon tones, "Midnight City" shows just how far he's traveled from Saturdays = Youth's ornate sound.
He goes even farther afield with the tender piano instrumental "Where the Boats Go"; "Raconte-Moi Un Histoire," where a child imagines a world where everyone turns into jungle frogs over bouncy synths and guitars; and "Soon, My Friend," which ends the album's first half with symphonic grandeur and Beach Boys harmonies.
On its second half, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming sounds more traditionally M83, from the triumphant yet heartbroken "My Tears Are Becoming a Sea" to the thrilling rush of "New Map" and "Steve McQueen." Despite the album's sprawl, Gonzalez holds everything together with wide-eyed enthusiasm.
He handles most of the vocals here, singing with a yelp that evokes Howard Jones on "Reunion" and "OK Pal" -- and while this album is as indebted to the '80s as his previous album was, it somehow feels less steeped in nostalgia.
Gonzalez displays his uncanny knack for making unfashionable sounds fresh again with "Claudia Lewis'" un-ironic slap bass and "Splendor'"s children’s choir; it takes guts to use these sounds, and brains to use them well, and fortunately, he has both.
Unlike Saturdays = Youth's wall-to-wall epics, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming ebbs and flows, with interludes like the dreamy "Echoes of Mine" and "Klaus I Love You" tipping the album’s balance toward atmosphere instead of pop songs.
More than any of M83's other albums, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming feels like a destination to explore, and its retro-futuristic ambition helped set the tone for synth pop in the 2010s.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IntroAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 05:22 | 12 MB | 39 MB |
| 2 | Midnight CityAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 04:04 | 9 MB | 28 MB |
| 3 | ReunionAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 03:55 | 9 MB | 30 MB |
| 4 | Where the Boats GoAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 01:46 | 4 MB | 9 MB |
| 5 | WaitAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 05:43 | 13 MB | 34 MB |
| 6 | Raconte-Moi Une HistoireAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 04:04 | 9 MB | 28 MB |
| 7 | Train To PlutonAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 01:15 | 2 MB | 6 MB |
| 8 | Claudia LewisAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 04:31 | 10 MB | 34 MB |
| 9 | This Bright FlashAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 02:24 | 5 MB | 16 MB |
| 10 | When Will You Come Home?Anthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 01:23 | 3 MB | 5 MB |
| 11 | My Tears Are Becoming a SeaAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 02:31 | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| 12 | New MapAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 04:22 | 10 MB | 30 MB |
| 13 | Ok PalAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 03:58 | 9 MB | 29 MB |
| 14 | Another Wave From YouAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 01:53 | 4 MB | 10 MB |
| 15 | SplendorAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 05:07 | 11 MB | 27 MB |
| 16 | Year One, One UfoAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 03:17 | 7 MB | 23 MB |
| 17 | FountainsAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 01:21 | 3 MB | 7 MB |
| 18 | Steve McQueenAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 03:48 | 8 MB | 29 MB |
| 19 | Echoes of MineAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 03:39 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 20 | Klaus I Love YouAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 01:44 | 4 MB | 12 MB |
| 21 | OutroAnthony Gonzalez, Yan Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Brad Laner, Justin Meldal-Johnsen | M83 | Play | 04:07 | 9 MB | 23 MB |
| 22 | Soon, My Friend | M83 | Play | 03:09 | 7 MB | 18 MB |
| 73 mins | 168 MB | |||||
| 73 mins | 487 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Alden | Monologue |
| 2 | Jonathan Bates | Choir/Chorus |
| 3 | Lydie Benzakin | Monologue |
| 4 | Anouck Bertin | Art Direction, Design, Photography |
| 5 | Roland Brown | Management |
| 6 | Todd Burke | Engineer |
| 7 | Juliette Commagere | Choir/Chorus |
| 8 | Dave Cooley | Mastering |
| 9 | Alessandro Cortini | Choir/Chorus |
| 10 | Lily Depertuis | Choir/Chorus |
| 11 | Robin Finck | Choir/Chorus |
| 12 | Antoine Gaillet | Mixing |
| 13 | Samsara Gamble | Choir/Chorus |
| 14 | Anthony Gonzalez | Art Direction, Clapping, Composer, Conductor, Design, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Orchestral Arrangements, Piano, Producer, Programming, Snaps, Synthesizer, Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| 15 | Yan Gonzalez | Composer |
| 16 | John Graney | Whistle |
| 17 | Eliot Guenoden | Choir/Chorus |
| 18 | Tony Hoffer | Mixing |
| 19 | Graham Hope | Assistant Engineer |
| 20 | Gabriel Johnson | Trumpet |
| 21 | Toni Kasza | Choir Director |
| 22 | Morgan Kibby | Choir/Chorus, Composer, Monologue, Vocals (Background) |
| 23 | James King | Flute, Sax (Baritone), Saxophone |
| 24 | Shane Konen | Layout |
| 25 | Brad Laner | Composer, Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| 26 | Alex Lily | Choir/Chorus |
| 27 | Cameron Lister | Assistant Engineer |
| 28 | M83 | Primary Artist |
| 29 | Justine Marecaux | Choir/Chorus |
| 30 | Loïc Maurin | Clapping, Drums, Percussion, Snaps |
| 31 | Justin Meldal-Johnsen | Clapping, Composer, Engineer, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Mandolin, Percussion, Producer, Programming, Recorder, Snaps |
| 32 | Zelly Boo Meldal-Johnsen | Monologue |
| 33 | Clara Mesaro | Choir/Chorus |
| 34 | Tristian Mesaro | Choir/Chorus |
| 35 | Sasha Moret | Choir/Chorus |
| 36 | Orphans String and Brass Orchestra | Featured Artist |
| 37 | The Purple Mixed Adult Choir | Choir/Chorus, Clapping, Vocals (Background) |
| 38 | Mike Schuppan | Assistant Engineer, Engineer |
| 39 | Ashkahn Shahparnia | Layout |
| 40 | The Shakespeare Bridge Children's Choir | Choir/Chorus, Clapping, Snaps, Vocals (Background) |
| 41 | Matis Staggs | Choir/Chorus |
| 42 | Sasha Staggs | Choir/Chorus |
| 43 | Emily Thurston | Choir/Chorus |
| 44 | Tipple | Guitar (Acoustic) |
| 45 | Joseph Trapanese | Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements |
| 46 | Joey Waronker | Drums (Electric), Orchestral Percussion, Percussion |
| 47 | Patrick Warren | Piano |
| 48 | Amy White | Choir/Chorus, Vocals (Background) |
| 49 | Chloe Whyte | Choir/Chorus |
| 50 | Elsa Whyte | Choir/Chorus |
| 51 | Lyle Workman | Banjo, Guitar (Acoustic), Mandolin, Marxophone |
| 52 | Zola Jesus | Vocals |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |