The smart bet on M83’s seventh album, Junk, is that it can’t possibly match the epic heights of its predecessor, the expansive 2011 double-LP Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. But band mastermind Anthony Gonzalez avoided the comparisons altogether by veering away from his reliable stadium-sized synth-rock into unexpected new territory—including house music (electro-symphonic anthem “Do It, Try It”), vocoder funk (sax-laced “Walkway Blues”) and Rhodes piano balladry (“For the Kids”). By indulging the hidden corners of his record collection and defying expectations, he circumvents the pressure of following a bona fide modern classic—it’s easy to imagine Gonzalez muttering to himself, “Why the fuck not?” in the studio. “Tension” is a spacey slow-jam instrumental—in another life, it could have soundtracked a John Hughes rom-com; “Moon Crystal” rides upbeat keys and strings into a cheese-tastic jazz-pop groove—you can practically visualize the freeze-framed intro credits to a dated American sitcom. There are no towering radio masterpieces here (à la “Midnight City”), but Junk’s playful, anything-goes charm digs deeper than the more cohesive Dreaming. With its savvy eclecticism, it offers a wider spectrum of Gonzalez’s varied talents.