M83 - Saturdays = Youth (Music CD)

M83's Anthony Gonzalez has the knack for turning outdated sounds into fresh, stylish music. Saturdays=Youth transforms the unrepentantly fake sounds of the '80s into delicate fantasy pop: synths whoosh like wind tunnels and ping like lasers, guitars are whipped into ethereal froth and the drums are robotic and proud of it. Though the album plays like a love letter to artists ranging from the Cocteau Twins to Mr. Mister, it never seems designed to just re-create those sounds. "Kim & Jessie"'s heart-racing young love is one of Gonzalez' finest sonic confections, along with "Graveyard Girl" and the Kate Bush-worshiping "Up!," a sci-fi fairytale that boasts fittingly unearthly singing by guest vocalist Morgan Kibby. For all its nostalgic haze, this is some of M83's most focused music. ~ Heather Phares