Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter has dropped off the first official track from his forthcoming orchestral solo album, Mythologies. The single, titled “L’Accouchement,” is performed by the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine and conducted by Romain Dumas.
Mythologies, which runs 90 minutes long, includes 23 scenes that rework Bangalter’s signature sound for choreographer Angelin Preljocaj’s ballet of the same moniker. In lieu of electronic music, the record leans into “the large-scale traditional force of a symphony and, as such, it embraces the history of orchestral ballet music.”
According to a press release, “The form, the stakes and the creative process involved in ‘Mythologies’ are all radically different and represent a new stage in Bangalter’s development over the last thirty years of writing, composing and performing music.”
Preljocaj and Banglater first worked together in the fall of 2019, when the former asked the latter to write the score for a new project that intended to celebrate his dance company’s collaborations with the Opéra National de Bordeaux. At the time, Bangalter’s work was to serve as the backdrop for dancers from the Opéra National de Bordeaux’s ballet company and Preljocaj’s independent company.
In 2021, Bangalter and his Daft Punk bandmate Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo announced their official breakup. Notably, Bangalter has not released a solo album since 2003’s Outrage.
Mythologies will release on April 7 via Erato/Warner. Listen to Thomas Bangalter’s “L’Accouchement” above.
Elsewhere, Harry Styles will perform at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
