Cascade (Floating Points album)

2024 studio album by Floating Points

Cascade

Studio album by

Floating Points

Released| 13 September 2024 (2024-09-13)
Studio|

* EMS4 (London)
* Sunfair (California)
* Different Fur (California)
* Rancho De La Luna (California)

Genre| Electronic
Length| 57:32
Label| Ninja Tune
Floating Points chronology
| Promises
(2021)  | Cascade
(2024)  |

|
|

Singles from  Cascade

1. "Vocoder"
Released: 9 March 2022[1]
2. "Birth4000"
Released: 17 October 2023[2]
3. "Del Oro"
Released: 4 June 2024[3]
4. "Key103"
Released: 9 July 2024[4]
5. "Ocotillo"
Released: 22 August 2024[5]

Cascade is the third studio album by British electronic musician Sam Shepherd under the alias Floating Points. It was released on 13 September 2024 through Ninja Tune and received universal acclaim from critics.[6] The album topped the UK Dance Albums Chart.[7]

## Background

[edit]

Cascade is Floating Points' first solo studio album since Crush (2019).[8] He collaborated with Pharoah Sanders and London Symphony Orchestra on Promises (2021).[9] He then created his first ballet score, Mere Mortals, in collaboration with San Francisco Ballet.[10] Cascade was inspired by his hometown of Manchester.[11] The song "Afflecks Palace" refers to an emporium in the city.[12] The song "Key103" takes its title from a Manchester radio station.[13] The album's cover art was created by Akiko Nakayama.[14] "Vocoder", "Birth4000", "Del Oro", "Key103", and "Ocotillo" were released as singles from the album.[15][16]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsAggregate scores

Source| Rating
AnyDecentMusic?| 7.8/10[17]
Metacritic| 83/100[6]
Review scores
Source| Rating
AllMusic| [18]
Clash| 8/10[19]
The Line of Best Fit| 8/10[20]
MusicOMH| [21]
The Observer| [22]
Pitchfork| 8.0/10[23]
PopMatters| 7/10[24]
Under the Radar| 8.5/10[25]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Cascade received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 from 13 critic scores.[6]

Brandon Miller of PopMatters commented that "Across nine tracks, Floating Points guides listeners through a series of self-reflective passages and hard club drops, suitable for both sweaty dance floors and moments of existential solitude."[24] Robin Murray of Clash stated, "an autobiographical paean to club culture, it acts as a window of insight into his electronic imagination, while also slapping hard."[19] Paul Simpson of AllMusic called it "yet another marvelous Floating Points album, and easily the most successful work he's made as a dance producer."[18] Krystal Rodriguez of Billboard stated, "A collection of unconventional club bangers, it pulses with twitchy textures, glistening melodies, synth freak-outs and gravelly drums."[26] Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan stated, "Like cohorts Four Tet, Jamie xx, and Daphni, Floating Points has an ear for melody that makes Cascade a gorgeous record, but it also goes even deeper into hard-hitting body music than most of Crush did."[27]

It was nominated for the Best Electronic Record award at the 2025 Libera Awards.[28]

### Accolades

[edit]

Year-end lists for Cascade Publication  | List  | Rank  | Ref.

|
|
|

Exclaim! | Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2024  |

[29]

MusicOMH | musicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2024  |

[30]

Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Albums of 2024  |

[31]

Slant Magazine | The 50 Best Albums of 2024  |

[32]

Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2024  |

[33]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Sam Shepherd.

Cascade track listingNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Vocoder (Club Mix)"| 7:31
2.| "Key103"| 7:22
3.| "Birth4000"| 4:46
4.| "Del Oro"| 6:14
5.| "Fast Forward"| 7:38
6.| "Ocotillo"| 8:43
7.| "Afflecks Palace"| 6:38
8.| "Tilt Shift"| 4:40
9.| "Ablaze"| 3:57
Total length:| 57:32

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from liner notes.[34]

* Sam Shepherd – music, arrangement, recording
* Dan Snaith – drums (5)
* Miriam Adefris – harp (6)
* Hannah Ekholm – voice (7)
* Stella Mozgawa – drums (7)
* Hikaru Utada – voice (8, 9)
* Matt Colton – mastering
* Akiko Nakayama – artwork
* Matthew Cooper – design

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for Cascade Chart (2024)  | Peak
position

|

Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] | 84
Scottish Albums (OCC)[36] | 15
UK Albums (OCC)[37] | 90
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[7] | 1
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[38] | 4

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Eede, Christian (9 March 2022). "Floating Points Releases New Single, 'Vocoder'". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
2. ^ Renshaw, David (17 October 2023). "Floating Points returns with "Birth4000"". The Fader. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
3. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (4 June 2024). "Floating Points returns with new single, "Del Oro"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
4. ^ Welsh, April Clare (10 July 2024). "Floating Points announces new album, 'Cascade', shares single: Listen". DJ Mag. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
5. ^ Hakimian, Rob (22 August 2024). "Floating Points unveils a percolating electronic painting in "Ocotillo"". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
6. ^ a b c "Cascade by Floating Points". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
7. ^ a b "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
8. ^ Strauss, Matthew (9 July 2024). "Floating Points Announces New Album Cascade, Shares New Song "Key103": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
9. ^ Malin, Marina (9 July 2024). "Floating Points Announces New Album and Shares Video for New Song "Key103"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
10. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (9 July 2024). "Floating Points unveils details of his new album, Cascade". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
11. ^ Bell, Kaelen (10 July 2024). "Floating Points Announces New Album 'Cascade,' Shares "Key103"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
12. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (13 September 2024). "Floating Points: Cascade album review — cerebral, kinetic dance music". Financial Times. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
13. ^ Murray, Robin (9 July 2024). "Floating Points Announces New Album 'Cascade'". Clash. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
14. ^ Sacher, Andrew (9 July 2024). "Floating Points announces new album 'Cascade,' shares "Key103"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
15. ^ Lawson, Michael (9 July 2024). "Floating Points unveils new dance floor-focused album, Cascade". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
16. ^ Breihan, Tom (22 August 2024). "Floating Points – "Ocotillo"". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
17. ^ "Cascade by Floating Points reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
18. ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Cascade - Floating Points". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
19. ^ a b Murray, Robin (20 September 2024). "Floating Points – Cascade". Clash. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
20. ^ Oinonen, Janne (11 September 2024). "Floating Points goes minimalist on Cascade". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
21. ^ Hogwood, Ben (13 September 2024). "Floating Points – Cascade". MusicOMH. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
22. ^ Empire, Kitty (6 September 2024). "Floating Points: Cascade review – an enthralling record of out-and-out bangers". The Observer. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
23. ^ Ryce, Andrew (13 September 2024). "Floating Points: Cascade". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
24. ^ a b Miller, Brandon (25 September 2024). "Floating Points Returns to Electronic Music with 'Cascade'". PopMatters. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
25. ^ Verity, Alfie (4 October 2024). "Floating Points: Cascade (Ninja Tune)". Under the Radar. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
26. ^ Rodriguez, Krystal (13 September 2024). "Friday Dance Music Guide: The Week's Best New Tracks From Rüfüs du Sol, Four Tet & Ellie Goulding, Anna Lunoe & More". Billboard. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
27. ^ Sacher, Andrew (13 September 2024). "Notable Releases of the Week (9/13)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
28. ^ Grein, Paul (19 March 2025). "Shaboozey, Waxahatchee & More Lead 2025 Libera Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
29. ^ "Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2024". Exclaim!. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
30. ^ "musicOMH's Top 50 Albums Of 2024". MusicOMH. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
31. ^ "The 100 Best Albums of 2024". Rolling Stone. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
32. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2024". Slant Magazine. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
33. ^ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2024". Stereogum. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
34. ^ Floating Points (2024). Cascade (CD booklet). Ninja Tune.
35. ^ "Ultratop.be – Floating Points – Cascade" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
37. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
38. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Cascade at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Floating Points

Studio albums|

* Elaenia (2015)
* Crush (2019)
* Promises (2021)
* Cascade (2024)

Compilation albums|

* Late Night Tales: Floating Points (2019)

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