Anthony Gonzalez, from Antibes on the French Riviera, has run M83 solo since Nicolas Fromageau's departure. Best known for widescreen, tears-in-the-synthesizer dream pop. Digital Shades Vol. 1 (2007) is the deliberate opposite: a largely instrumental ambient and drone set, the first of a side-series, written, composed and performed entirely by Gonzalez. "The highest journey" is the album's longest piece at 8:16, where the record goes furthest into pure texture. The series is patient. The sequel, DSVII, didn't arrive until 2019, twelve years later. In July 2026 M83 announced a tenth album, I Wrote You a Letter, for release in September 2026.
From the notes for Episode 02 · fact-checked Oct 4, 2026.
