In a week, month, of very few interesting album releases, save the plethora of re-releases, the album cover of Elaenia by Floating Points was an immediate draw. A quick bit of googling reveals an ‘elaenia’ is a lythe South American bird. And so the album flits about like a small South American bird, sometimes smooth, jazzy and delicate, latterly full on ‘King of Limbs’ epic.
The various tracks take you different places everytime you listen. ‘Nespole’, is a noodly synth track that may put you off the remainder of the album, but stick with it because, 10 minutes of ‘Silhouettes’, a rangy free form contemporary jazz track, will draw you back in.
Elaenia
The title track, ‘Elaenia’, sounds like music from the ethereal and dreamlike App ‘Monument Valley’. Now without being flippant, I love it. And so the album evolves from this syth jazz to a full on Radiohead crescendo in ‘Peroration Six’. Overall, produced beautifully, there is much to ponder here and the few listens I have had have taken me to a spooky halloween dream. I would say if you were on a vinyl splurge, buy this and listen to the grooves, the ample silent moments, not the groove.
I was listening to a FLAC file from Tidal Music Streaming with an Oppo HA-1 headphone amplifier and Focal Spirit Classic headphones. Heavenly set-up, dream-like music.
I forgot to do my track rating, I was so engrossed in the music, but here we go.
Track by Track Rating for Elaenia
Nespole – ***
Silhouettes (I, II, III) – ****
Elaenia – ****
Argenté – ***
Thin Air – ****
For Marmish-****
Peroration Six – *****
7 songs, 42 minutes, magical.