Digital Shades Vol. 1 is the precursor to the fourth album from M83, essentially the brainchild of Anthony Gonzalez, a resident of Antibes, France. Just after the Before the Dawn Heals Us US tour, Anthony decided to develop a musical direction already heard on some earlier M83 tracks and he started to write and record a collection of ambient works.  Having long been a Krautrock and Eno fan this was a kind of music that Anthony has always been familiar with. Recorded primarily at his home studio with the assistance of Antoine Gaillet, who had previously worked on Before the Dawn Heals Us, Anthony was able to work without pressure, knowing he could work on the record at his own time and pace. The idea of digital, relevant during all the process (from creating the music to sharing it), gave him the idea to call the project Digital Shades Vol.1, and to make the album part of an ongoing series. EMI. 2007.