
Mere Mortals
Floating Points
- 2 x LP
- Label
- Deutsche Grammophon
- Expected release
- 28 August 2026

It may be difficult and unpredictable, but it is also admirable: Floating Points never does the same thing twice. Sam Shepherd previously impressed with ‘Promises’, the sonic exploration with Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, only to follow that up with ‘Cascade’, a manufactured solo dance album where the search for (electronic) sound is also the foundation.
That happens to be the only common denominator with his latest work: ‘Mere Mortals’, his first ballet. Musically, this is closer to ‘Promises’, as the piece, inspired by the myth of Pandora’s box, is performed by the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra – a mix of sustained strings, menacing brass, and pulsating electronics. Even without witnessing the ballet, ‘Mere Mortals’ is exciting, rich in texture and melody.



















