The Soundtrack of Sisyphus: Floating Points’ Ode to Pandora’s Box

The intersection of music and dance is a potent one, capable of transporting audiences to realms both familiar and unknown. This synergy is exemplified in Floating Points’ Mere Mortals, the score for the San Francisco Ballet’s production of Pandora’s story. While the ballet itself offers an artistic interpretation of the myth, the album accompanying it raises intriguing questions about creativity, agency, and the human condition.

At its core, Pandora’s myth revolves around curiosity and change – qualities often seen as mutually exclusive in modern times. However, for Floating Points’ Sam Shepherd, these traits are precisely what make Pandora a compelling figure. “She really represents curiosity and change,” he says, offering an optimistic take on the traditional narrative by reclaiming Pandora from her one-dimensional role as a harvester of evil.

The ballet retells the myth with a focus on agency and kindness over destruction and chaos. This approach has its roots in Tamara Rojo’s commission to reimagine Pandora as a complex character rather than a simplistic symbol. By doing so, the production offers a timely commentary on our era, marked by increasing divisiveness and decreased empathy.

Shepherd’s score is equally provocative, combining traditional orchestral instruments with electronic elements to create tension and release. Tracks like “Nowhere to Land” build towards a haunting crescendo, capturing the sense of hopelessness that pervades Pandora’s story. The result is an album as much about atmosphere and mood as narrative.

Mere Mortals is more than just a soundtrack; it also reflects on the creative process itself. For Shepherd, working with choreographer Aszure Barton and violinist Cordula Merks was an opportunity to push his own boundaries as an artist. “When I heard the music I’d written on the page transformed by [Merks]‘s exquisite violin-playing,” he says, “it made me excited to write more in the future.”

This enthusiasm is infectious, and one can’t help but wonder what other collaborations will emerge from this creative nexus. Will we see more ballets scored by electronic musicians or perhaps vice versa? The possibilities are endless, and Mere Mortals serves as a reminder that art has the power to break down boundaries – whether between genres, disciplines, or entire worlds.

As the Edinburgh International Festival premieres this production tonight (August 28), audiences will witness not just a performance but an experiment in fusion. Will it succeed? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Floating Points’ Mere Mortals has already made its mark on the world of music and dance – and it’s bound to leave an indelible impression on anyone who listens.

Pandora’s box remains a potent symbol – one that continues to captivate our imagination even as we try to make sense of the chaos it unleashed. Floating Points’ score may not offer a solution to this problem, but it does provide a powerful soundtrack for our collective struggle. As the music swirls and eddies around us, we’re forced to confront the complexities of human nature – and the beauty that can emerge from even the darkest corners of existence.

The intersection of art and life is never more vivid than when confronted with something as simple yet profound as Pandora’s box. It’s a reminder that, no matter how much we think we know about ourselves and our place in the world, there’s always more to discover – and that sometimes, it’s the act of creation itself that holds the key to unlocking new understanding.