ELAENIA

Floating Points' Sam Shephard has been delivering beautiful, complex and hypnotic cosmic grooves for several years now - so I was thrilled to finally check his first album. His audio journeys have taken us from deep-house to techno-boogie with a mix of cinematic/4hero stylings and he has registered many highs already - any of the many collaborations with Fatima (highpoint 'Redlight') or the Peoples Potential, Shadows EP and Marilyn. Last year's releases were a mixed bag for me, with King Bromeliad being the strongest track but some of the tracks felt strangely like Floating Points by numbers or rehashes of previous releases. Elaenia is already getting some critical acclaim but I'm less convinced. Certainly, there are two-three killer tracks with Silhouettes 1,2,3 steadily transforming into a masterpiece. Perforation Six is killer too comes over like a Radiohead dub/remix. But the mid-section Elaenia/Thin air/Argente is weak - the kind of tracks you've heard (as filler tracks) on countless techno/electronica albums over the years. What sets Sam apart is the ability to layer soundscapes and inject jazzy keys. But four of these tracks really don't feel like Floating Points tracks (or at their best) and considering this is his first true album, it's a bit of a wasted opportunity. I continue to support Floating Points and will buy all his material - he is a true original and would urge any newcomers to Floating Points to check out his earlier work too.

Absolutely love this. Musician and producer Sam Shepherd is the man behind Floating Points and he delivers a masterpiece of modern music. Elements of jazz, electronica, funk and and modern classical music are fused with vintage synths and conventional instruments in a deeply satisfying mix. There are spare compositions such the opening track right up to the driving intensity of the last track, Peroration Six, which keeps building and building to an almost unbearable climax. That track in particular has been getting some play on BBC Radio 6 Music and elsewhere. Not a duff track on the album and my only complaint is that it finishes too soon.

Very good album, will certainly purchase more from them

First impressions were of a cross between Luke Vibert's Big Soup and Boards Of Canada, but that description doesn't do it justice. Excellent.

Noisy vinyl. This is a shame as there are quite a few quiet parts and it is distracting. Much better to get the CD on this one.

A rare thing of grace and beauty - a electronic jazz suite for the 21st century.

Varied album that just continues to grow on you as you listen to it. He doesn't disappoint.

Such a great album