Maps - Mapsmusic
Straight of the bowels of Northampton comes Maps, a droney, smörgåsbord of sounds that are just utterly cool. James Chapman is the brains behind this outfit. In fact if you only listen to their recordings, then Chapman is the entire outfit. He records all of Maps' music on a 16-track recorder at home. While this is becoming more commonplace amongst electronic-based artists, the different instrumentations, textures and atmospheres that Chapman creates are incredibly lush and beautiful. Obviously influenced by New Wave and its Shoegaze successors, Maps brings something new to the effects-laden table.
Unlike many solo creators who choose to perform live with pre-recorded backing tracks, Chapman is joined on the road by a gaggle of worthy musicians who are keenly able to reproduce the recorded sound live, while at the same time adding their own particular elements to the live show.
Maps are just hitting the upswing now, and their stuff is becoming increasingly difficult to procure in stores, so I suggest you go grab yourself one of their EPs before they're all gone.
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