Album review: Dawn FM by The Weeknd

“You are now listening to 103.5 Dawn FM. You’ve been in the dark for way too long. It’s time to step into the light and accept your fate with open arms. Scared? Don’t worry. We’ll be there to hold your hand and guide you through this painless transition. But what’s the rush? Just relax and enjoy another hour of commercial ‘free yourself’ music on 103.5 Dawn FM. Tune in.” 

So begins the shimmering masterpiece that is The Weeknd’s fifth studio album, Dawn FM. “Intense, graphic, sexy, euphoric, provocative”. These are the words from ‘Every Angel Is Terrifying’ that best define this artist up to this record. And as the introductory monologue gives way to the synth beats of Gasoline, we find The Weeknd in a familiar place, “staring into the abyss” at “5am”, trying to mask his loneliness in the arms of another woman. As he implores his partner to douse him in fuel and set him ablaze, you could be mistaken for thinking Abel Tesfaye has descended even further into the depression and decadence that features heavily in his previous works. 

However bleak the opening of the album seems, what comes next is a revelation for long-time fans of The Weeknd. Dawn FM is Tasfaye’s most uplifting and hopeful production to date. Track after track delivers sublime modern R&B that draws heavily from Abel’s 80’s heroes, including Prince and Michael Jackson. Following in the footsteps of his masterpiece, 2019’s Blinding Lights, it all appears effortless and flows easily.  

‘Take My Breath’ is the standout hit, and on the album version it is given all the space it needs to truly shine. The extended intro and synth interlude elevate this above the 3-minute radio hit we have come to love already, bringing to mind ‘Thriller’ in its entirety. This song deserves to be played in full and I’d love to hear the album version on Fly Live.

 Next is my favourite song on Dawn FM, the funky distorted bassline of ‘Sacrifice’ giving texture to Abel’s high falsetto voice. The second half of the record begins after a brief monologue from Quincy Jones, the man who produced MJ’s Thriller, where he laments the misfortunes of his childhood and its effects on his adult relationships. The tempo then eases for the rest of the songs, as The Weeknd deals with his own fears and doubts around his own personal life. Here we see a more mature side to the artist, after years of making records detailing his hedonistic lifestyle. 

Tracks like ‘Is There Someone Else?’ and ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ give us a sense of a man who is questioning himself and what he deserves. It is a suitably introspective end to an album that starts at 5am with soaring electronic pop, and slowly moves towards the light. 

The fictional Dawn FM station, given life throughout the album’s interludes by none other than Jim Carrey, exposes the feeling of awakening from a bad dream. After 2-years of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on our lives, it’s a sentiment that we can all relate to. The grey and aged Abel who features as the album art represents the beleaguered exasperation we’ve all felt recently. The barest hint of the dawn breaking is visible with the sun shining from behind on Abel’s shoulder.

 It is also possible Abel is hinting at the end of The Weeknd as an act. In the past Tasfaye has spoken of how he regards himself and The Weeknd as separate personas, and the disfunction this has caused for him in his personal life. Whilst there are no hints in the lyrics of Dawn FM at this conundrum, the album cover will certainly make you wonder if The Weeknd has reached the end of the line. Listening to the album will cement the impression however, that Abel has matured, and is at the top of his game. We can’t wait to hear what comes next from him.