Show Review

You half expect M83, a French band named after a distant galaxy, to be R2D2 and C3PO dabbling in electronica. And I imagine the band felt the same way landing in rural Burlington, Vermont.

Playing on the heels of its third album, Before the Dawn Heals Us, which is making a considerable dent on the charts and having sold out two nights at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, M83 is getting some due recognition. The brainchild of Anthony Gonzalez, the band took the stage showcasing their shoe-gazing art rock sensibilities. Gonzalez and his team of three steady musicians – particularly on bass and drums, was ready for liftoff early on. Composing thundering images with programmed flourishes and live instrumentation, the set featured otherworldly vocals which carried the strongest numbers to dreamlike heights.

The most interesting part however is how they summon their cheap synthesizers to sound like raging guitars, engineering a larger than life sound. At times you wanted to believe the whole thing was staged, but nope, it was all real. Just as well, as M83 proves to be the real deal.