Review: Floating Points – Cascade

Sam Shepherd’s latest LP as Floating Points, Cascade, is a return from the jazzy ether and back to the grit of a dance floor. Though he’s ventured into ambient and experimental territory with albums like Elaenia and Promises, Cascade brings back the bangers. Tracks like Vocoder (Club Mix) and Fast Forward are unapologetically club-focused, with DJ-friendly runtimes and deep grooves.

Fans of Shepherd’s earlier work will recognize the familiar sonic palette. Del Oro nods to his 2011 Shadows EP, while Ocotillo and Ablaze recall the beauty of Crush. But Cascade also takes some new risks—Birth4000 is a disco homage to Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, and Afflecks Palace dives into wild dungeon acid territory.

While Cascade offers fun, driving beats, it sometimes sacrifices the depth and subtlety that make Shepherd’s music so special. But with a long-awaited tour on the horizon and these club anthems ready to go, get ready to lose yourself in the true art of dance.