Hana Mullen | Contributing Illustrator

With each song taking your hand and steering you through the feelings of words left unsaid, bitter love endings, and reflections on all things life, M83’s moving new album “I Wrote You A Letter” captures this deeply human journey with almost no lyrics in a way that exceeded my expectations. 

The French electronic group is best known for their 2011 album “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” but their newest release, “I Wrote You A Letter,” caught my attention.

The simple title is humble compared to the contents of the album, similar to the way a letter can contain an explosion of emotion while hiding behind a neatly folded piece of paper. I was captivated from the very first song, “Blister Sunrise,” which hits you in the same way the sun does when you stare at it for too long, given the layers of synth that evoke a reflective, yet warm intensity. The powerful synth beats can sometimes be overwhelming in songs such as “Losing Ground,” where they can craft an emotional landscape filled with feeling and memory. The majority of the songs are without words, which encapsulates how they are not always needed when feelings are so intense and so universal.

Any song I listen to comes with a vivid visual scene, and with this album, I saw love, heartbreak, growth, setbacks, and regrowth. I would recommend being vulnerable while listening to this album and going on its journey. “I Wrote You A Letter” invites reflection, connection, or entirely unexpected emotions.