CD of The Week

Given the lushness and largeness of Anthony Gonzalez's sound on his past M83 releases, it was only a matter of time before it got too big for one record to hold. Thus we have Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, a sprawling, expansive double album sporting more sounds, moods and ideas than the first three M83 albums combined. While this may come at the cost of the focus of Gonzalez's previous high watermark Saturdays=Youth, the various directions that he shoots out in at once this time around lead to some very exciting, and exceptional, destinations.

Never one for a slow buildup, the album opens with the instant grandeur of "Intro," featuring the titanic vocals of Zola Jesus, aka Nika Rosa Danilova. Its epic swell gives way to soaring anthems "Midnight City" and "Reunion," immediate contenders for the eventual M83 Greatest Hits collection. These, along with the ebullient electrofunk of "Claudia Lewis," would be enough highlights on any record. And they all occupy Disc One.

Disc Two opens with the fragile (for M83) "My Tears are Becoming a Sea" before birthing what sounds like a universe unto itself with the charging, Arcade Firey "New Map," the swirling "Year One, One UFO," and best of all, the shimmering shoegaze surge of "Steve McQueen," a quintessential M83 catharsis that serves not only as an album climax, but perhaps a career one.

This album isn't flawless. Some of the shorter sonic vignettes make you wish Hurry Up would do exaclty that. Furthermore, despite his increased vocal presence, Gonzalez doesn't always rise up to the challenges he gives himself in his songs (it doesn't help that he has to follow Zola). On that note, Saturdays MVP Morgan Kibby is sorely missed in this department. Nevertheless, there is arguably a masterwork to be found in here for those willing to find it.