Oh My Rockness

Like Mogwai, (except they're French and they love keyboards) M83 have the rare ability to completely invigorate and transform an audience with the euphoric sounds they create. This is true ambient music.

For some reason, it has become in vogue to tag a band "ambient" if they are instrumental and, too often, boring. However, the definition of ambient is "surrounds", or more accurately, "completely enveloping." It seems to me that completely enveloping is the antithesis of boring, and M83 seems to agree.

With an incredible ear for melody, as one grand song effortlessly floats into the start of the next, you are completely swept away by the electronic ecstasy of their synthetic sounds. Programmed strings and drum loops crescendo to a dramatic climax that leaves you feeling dizzy with elation. This is M83's time.

Published 02/16/06