News about Sam Shepherd a.k.a. Floating Points releasing a new record are always good news. »King Bromeliad« is no exception to this rule. According to the record’s music, the »King of pineapples« from the cover, who is holding his power’s insignia (a bromeliad-plant) in his hands, is not the harshest of all rulers. He doesn’t exercise his power through brisk marching-beats, but rather uses swinging-jazzy snare drums. He’s quite good at syncopating, in general. In the middle of all the ever-so-dancable euphoria, the bass is getting close to becoming disobedient, but the monarch’s authority is never being questioned – »Crazy how good he is at ruling!«. The b-side takes a stroll through the bohemian district of »Montparnasse« in Paris, where you can also find a jolly calmness, the depth of which manifests through a complex and interlaced groove. Not to forget the slightly melancholy female voice, reminding us of the fact that even in the context of arts, life’s not a never-ending party. At the end, the rhythm-machines are being turned off altogether. What’s left are a few synth-arpeggios, almost as if to help us switch from the club over to our dreams.
King Bromeliad
