Sam Shepherd, aka Floating Points, created six remarkable tracks for the Adult Swim anime series Lazarus, which the legendary Shinichirō Watanabe directed.

The complete soundtrack dropped in April, and Shepherd’s contribution was recently our “Album of the Week.” It features three celebrated artists—Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points—each offering a full-length album.

If you’re acquainted with Shepherd’s work, you know he’s a wizard at blending electronic music with jazz. His six pieces perfectly match the show’s futuristic emotional storyline.

The album brings together a trio of London-based experimentalists. Producer-multi-instrumentalist Susumu Mukai, aka Zongamin, and drummer-composer Valentina Magaletti need no introduction to site regulars. We’ve championed their projects together (Holy Tongue & V/Z) and solo work. Miriam Adefris, a sound artist, harpist, and composer, is a new name for us. Her enchanting harp plucks on four tracks—particularly in ‘Total Eclipse’—have us eagerly digging through her other works…

The first track, “Mirror Pursuit”, features Mukai, Magaletti and Adefris. A complex rhythm structure and multiple sonic layers in this piece establish the album’s foundation by conveying the energetic nature of the series. Shepherd leaves the musical masterpiece ‘Dexion’ to last. Over its nine-minute duration, he explores expressive ambient textures alongside morphing thematic elements, demonstrating his skills in creating expansive musical experiences.

In Lazarus, Shepherd’s score pieces use structured melodies alongside improvisational elements, reinforcing the series’ visual storytelling. Floating Points and his collaborators craft a soundtrack that enhances the anime experience and stands alone as a showcase of their innovative approach to music.