Apr
30
2007
Maps – We Can Create
Posted by luna6 Leave a Comment
Artist : Maps
Album : We Can Create
Release Date : May 14, 2007
Website : Maps
Label : Mute Records
Free Downloads : Don’t Fear
Rating : 8.5
Users Rating: 8.64 
(11 votes)
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This is good folks. This is really good. Having somewhat of the unfriendly Web 2.0 band name of Maps (try google’ing that), the band does make some righteous electronic based music that has influences from all over the map.
Maps is essentially a Northampton U.K. gent named James Chapman. “We Can Create” would be his first album, although he has released a handful of eps that has created quite the buzz in certain circles. The record was co-produced by Valgeir Sigurdsson ( Bjork ) and mixed by Ken Thomas ( Sigur Ros ), so you can surmise the songs will have a layered sonic depth, while having a glossy major label type of feel to the songs.
This won’t be the most helpful of comparisons but while listening to “We Can Create” the album did bring back memories of Death In Vegas’ “Scorpio Rising” but without the gaudy guest vocalist appearances and the songs generally being far more engaging. The record is well produced, polished in manner that the songs will likely appeal to a large segment of the music listening population, but having enough sonic embellishments placed on the album to satisfy the more finicky of music fans.
I’m guessing I got the Death In Vegas vibe from the first track “So Low, So High” which is a lovely opening track. The fuzz based opening guitar riffs has a particular dirge like sound that recalls DIV’s “Aisha,” but the song soon opens up to a glossy soundscape that’s epic in scope and melodic with its simple sing-a-long vibe. “You Don’t Know Her Name” and “Elouise” both has a particular Boltfish Recording type of layered electronic sound, but more accessible and easily digestible. “It Will Find You” brings up some My Bloody Valentine influences, sounding a bit like the band sampled MBV’s “Soon” and layered it over a simple old school hip-hop beat and giving it some Happy Mondays type of hushed vocal delivery style. There’s also a heavy pop music friendly quotient to the songs on the album and for further proof just check out “To The Sky” and “Back + Forth.” Last track melds some of the Sigur Ros post-rock type of guitars with some charming electronics, and the song just builds up in this wonderfully melodic manner where its hard not to gush over the song and the album when it finishes.
Maps’ “We Can Create” is the best electronic album I have heard so far this year. The record melds this sweet combination of My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Ros, Boltfish Records influences into a well polished cd that could gain the widespread acceptance of say the Postal Service. Sweet little record that you should check out.
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Track List :
01. So Low So High
02. You Won’t Know Her Name
03. Elouise
04. It Will Find You
05. Glory Verse
06. Liquid Sugar
07. To The Sky
08. Back And Forth
09. Lost My Soul
10. Don’t Fear
11. When You Leave
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