FLOATING POINTS - Lazarus

It was quite a coup pulled off by the producers of the Japanese anime TV series “Lazarus”. For the soundtrack of the thirteen episodes of the first season, they managed to bring on board three outstanding figures from their respective musical genres: Floating Points, Kamasi Washington and Bonobo. Each of them put together an album under their own name, folding in the material they composed, and in all three cases we're looking at works that rank among the best in their respective discographies. If the work done by Kamasi Washington is truly dazzling, the one who strays furthest from his comfort zone is Floating Points, who devoted himself to this good half-hour of music in the period immediately following the well-received “Cascade”.

Of the six tracks recorded by the Manchester-based composer, three were made in collaboration with Valentina Magaletti on drums, with Austrian harpist (though London-based) Miriam Adefris, and with Japanese producer Zongamin. Taking advantage of the varied qualities each of these collaborators brings, Floating Points steers his musical exploration in multiple directions, often achieving remarkable results, as in the kraut assault laid out in the opening track, "Mirror Pursuit", a ride so tightly wound that it makes the ambient rupture that follows in "Total Eclipse" feel downright providential, ennobled precisely by Adefris's harp contributions.

The enveloping "Wires" is enriched by soft synth touches designed to recreate a very Seventies atmosphere, closing out with a faint Middle Eastern flavour. Rhythm forcefully takes centre stage again on the following "Ajar", led by Magaletti's irrepressible drumming as she explores a form of hyper-expanded jazz, much as in the beats that make up the architecture of "Dexion", 9 minutes that dust off the vividly colourful, dancefloor-ready Floating Points of old.

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17/12/2025