By Grant Kelly, Contributor

[Ninja Tune; 2024]

Rating: 8/10

Key Tracks: “Vocoder [Club Mix],” “Birth4000,” “Tilt Shift”

Cascade is the fourth album by British electronic musician Floating Points, whose work has been influenced by an array of styles, from house and IDM to jazz and even classical music on his critically lauded collaboration album with Pharaoh Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, Promises, in 2021. Cascade, for the most part, offers relatively straightforward dance tracks punctuated with atmospheric passages. But even if it’s intended to be more approachable, its songs are anything but generic. 

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The first portion of the album is characterized by bright, organic-sounding synth tones, driving house rhythms, and minimalistic, bass-heavy beat drops that manage to find power in understated dynamics rather than explosive proportions – perfectly exemplified by the opener “Vocoder (Club Mix)”. The following “Key103” and “Birth4000” incorporate more techno-leaning grooves and crushed, retro-sounding leads. Beyond the more obvious sonic characteristics, these tracks also establish a sense of cohesion that the album excels at throughout its runtime. Many of the songs borrow elements from previous tracks and add new textural or rhythmic ideas that keep them sounding connected but unique. 

It can’t be understated how much attention to detail is put into Cascade’s mix, either. There isn’t a single point where the low-end feels muddy or out of control, which is no small feat considering how much of a focus the kicks and bass melodies are to the album. Additionally, many tracks incorporate small, intriguing percussive and harmonic sounds that line their lead melodies and rhythms, which makes repeat listens of the album even more rewarding, such as on “Del Oro.”

“Fast Forward” and “Ocotillo” send the album in a new direction, with expansive, ambient soundscapes and instrumental palettes more evocative of traditional stringed instruments. The beats are still there, and the buildups just as satisfying as before, but now with a ghostly, unnerving undertone that persists throughout the second half of the album. “Afflecks Palace” and “Tilt Shift” boast some of the album’s most off-kilter rhythms and menacing synth tones, proving Floating Points’ ability to craft impactful tracks across a wide variety of moods. The closer “Ablaze” is a serene ambient piece that carries over some of the unnerving atmosphere from the previous tracks. It’s probably the simplest track on the album, but it provides a satisfying descent in energy to close everything out.  

From its sound design, to its composition, to its track sequencing, Cascade has care emanating from every aspect of its production, and proves itself to be one of the strongest electronic albums of the year.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4IYnAmZ8GvmNFF2ZxxKT8L