Floating Points Drops Ballet Score Album 'Mere Mortals'
Floating Points has surprise-released "Mere Mortals," a score for a ballet retelling the myth of Pandora, available via Deutsche Grammophon. The ballet, which premiered in 2024 with the San Francisco Ballet, explores themes of curiosity and change. Shepherd noted that Pandora represents bringing hell to Earth, with the album closing on a mournful note.
The album arrives as a surprise release, timed to the ballet’s European premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival. Commissioned by San Francisco Ballet’s artistic director Tamara Rojo, with choreography by Aszure Barton, the score was first performed in 2024. Shepherd’s interpretation reframes Pandora as a figure stripped of agency in later retellings, emphasizing her role as a symbol of curiosity and transformation rather than simple blame. The closing track, “Nowhere to Land,” accompanies a scene of hope circling a devastated planet, reflecting the work’s somber conclusion. Shepherd credits violinist Cordula Merks’s performance for inspiring him to continue composing.
This release could broaden classical and ballet audiences’ exposure to electronic-leaning composers, potentially normalizing cross-genre collaborations within prestigious institutions like Deutsche Grammophon. It may also spark renewed discussion about mythological reinterpretations in art, particularly regarding female agency and narrative framing. For Floating Points’ existing fans, the album offers a more orchestral, narrative-driven side of his work, possibly attracting new listeners from contemporary dance circles. The surprise-drop strategy could influence how other artists distribute genre-fluid scores, though its long-term cultural footprint depends on reception beyond the festival circuit.