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In 2003, Frenchmen Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau enjoyed international acclaim for Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, a luscious blend of shoegaze aesthetics, ambient pop, and progressive textures. But M83 had been around since at least 2001, when they issued their self-titled debut through the tiny but tastemaking French label Gooom. The success of Dead Cities, Red Seas brought attention not only to M83, but Gooom, too, and suddenly glitchy, sleek, and vaguely psychedelic artists like Cyann & Ben were enjoying (deserved) exposure alongside M83. Fromageau departed the project for solo work after the second album, and Gonzalez returned to the studio for a follow-up. When Before the Dawn Heals Us appeared in January 2005, the addition of vocals and more consistent rhythms made it M83's most cohesive album yet. After finishing the tour for that album, Gonzalez recorded Digital Shades, Vol. 1, a set of ambient songs inspired by Brian Eno and Krautrock that arrived in 2007. Gonzalez worked with producers Ewan Pearson and Ken Thomas on Saturdays=Youth, which was released in April 2008. Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide