Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter releases 17-minute ambient track 'CHIROPTERA'

This article was updated on 10/6/2024 to include information on the full six-hour score

Thomas Bangalter has released his latest track 'CHIROPTERA', a 17-minute ambient creation that debuted at the Opéra National de Paris.

The former Daft Punk member released the track on Friday (June 7) in two parts, 'CHIROPTERA' and 'CHIROPTERA' (solo intro), following a one-off show at the Parisian opera venue.

The tracks are a fraction of an expanded six-hour score of music Bangalter prepared for the show called 'CHIROPTERA MATIERE PREMIERE', which is now available digitally as well as in a limited number 10xLP vinyl record box sets.

Bangalter had been invited by French artist JR to be the second act of his transformation of the palace, which featured an installation on the Palais Garnier’s scaffolded exterior, redesigning it into a "vast cave that opened to a passage filled with rocks and light."

The show featured the original music from Bangalter, alongside performances from 153 dancers choreographed by Damien Jalet.

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The music from the performance creates an ambient and etherial soundscape, with dynamic peaks and troughs, accented by the synchronised dancers to create an audio-visual spectacle which was duly met with loud applause at its finish.

Following the performance, fans speculated whether the music would be released for listening on streaming services. However according to The Daft Punk Historian, in February the full length version was found on Instagram music Library, indicating that it was set to be publicized.

Bangalter is celebrating the now revealed release with his new sound installation ALETHEIA 19, which consists of "nineteen monophonic microgrooves cut on vinyl and presented in a simultaneous unsynchronised playback", to be presented in the first week of DANS LA LUMIERE, JR's fourth exhibition at Galerie Perrotin, which will take place from June 7 - July 26.

The single marks Bangalter’s first release since 'DAAAAAALÍ!', which he released on February 7, featuring two tracks from the surrealist comedy about Salvador Dalí that was scored by Bangalter.

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To stream the full track click here.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram