A vast and atmospheric piece of electronic minimalism, MIRAGE encompasses the changing states of the eponymous ballet, which is a ritual for 16 dancers conceived by choreographer Damien Jalet and contemporary artist Kōhei Nawa. Delivering a statement that feels both radical and accessible, attuned to the elements, Thomas Bangalter takes sculptural approach to sound and music in the lineage of Iannis Xenakis. The co founder of Daft Punk continues to carve a personal path grounded by experimentation as a mode of performance and the pleasure of collaboration. A trailer for the album is available to view now here, while a first extract Mirage: part. II will be released Friday on streaming services.
The album arrives in the midst of a vital creative chapter for Bangalter, releasing in the same week as major public artwork bearing his touch is unveiled in Paris. Following on from their collaborations Retour à la Caverne – Acte II, Chiroptera (with Damien Jalet) and the Dans la lumière exhibition, celebrated multi-disciplinary artist JR has invited Bangalter to imagine the sonic dimension to his forthcoming art installation La Caverne du Pont Neuf, which will transform Paris’ oldest bridge into cavern for three weeks. Bangalter took inspiration from Christo and Jeanne- Claude’s 1985 environmental artwork The Pont Neuf Wrapped, in which they wrapped the bridge in fabric, to “wrap” the cavern in a crafted sound: a monolithic, multilayered soundscape that will extend the monumental installation into an immersive inward journey.
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