With the 2015 release of his full-length debut, Elaenia, London-based composer, producer and keyboardist Sam Shepherd, best known for his recording project Floating Points rose to international acclaim as the effort was praised for a sound that meshed 70s jazz fusion and free jazz with glitchy and contemporary electronic production reminiscent of Return to Forever‘s Romantic Warrior and Bonobo’s The North Borders. In fact, if you had followed this site last year, you may recall that I wrote about the gorgeous, slow-burning and cinematic composition Silhouettes I, II and III” off the album.
Shepherd’s highly-awaited follow up to Elaenia, Kuiper is slated for a July 22 release through Luaka Bop Records and the renowned composer and producer will be on tour to support the new EP and his full-length debut with a lengthy tour throughout the Southeastern and Southwestern US (and you’ll see tour dates below) — which will have Shepherd and his backing band collaborating with electronic composer, producer and vocalist Olga Bell for most of it.
Interestingly, as Shepherd announced his tour and the forthcoming release of Kupier, Shepherd released live footage of him and his backing band performing “Silhouettes I, II and III,” “Argente” and “Kupier” in KEXP‘s studios last month. Naturally, the live footage should give you a good sense of a live Floating Points set — including as the announced joked a visual display behind the band, which included floating points; but it also should cement Shepherd’s burgeoning reputation as an sonically challenging and inventive composer, whose material also manages to be trippy, expansive and mind-altering while being approachable.
The live session includes a rather revealing interview in which Shepherd discusses the origins of Floating Points, his influences, how he met the members of his backing band and his incredible 10,000 album record collection.
North American Tour Dates
8/27 & 8/28 – Los Angeles, CA – FYF – Tickets
9/05 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up – Tickets *
9/06 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom – Tickets *
9/07 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf – Tickets *
9/09 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger – Tickets *
9/10 – Austin, TX – Mohawk – Tickets *
9/11 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada – Tickets *
9/13 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Upstairs – Tickets *
9/14 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa – Tickets *
9/15 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West – Tickets *
9/17 – Miami, FL – North Beach Bandshell – Tickets *
- w/ Olga Bella
