Maps is actually a man called James Chapman who makes music from his bedroom in Northamptonshire and following three well-received singles, ‘It Will Find You’ is the first taster of imminent album ‘We Can Create’, a particularly apt title when you consider the way he makes music.
Chapman is clearly no stranger to hard work. Somewhat perversely, his brand of ‘electronica’ is actually made entirely without the use of computers, instead consisting of a series of sounds married together and layered on top of one another on an old 16 track. A true songsmith, then.
‘It Will Find You’ is an absorbing piece of music. An atmospheric mix of sounds, beats, loops and vocals that hit one after the other, entirely captivating the listener. Above the ocean of twisted noises, dreamlike vocals rise above to form an epic, soothing chorus that puts one in mind of Moon Safari-era Air. At once dark and blissful, eerie and calming, ‘It Will Find You’ manages to tread a fine line between complex arrangement and easy listening. It harks back to the fuzzy moodiness of My Bloody Valentine while retaining the electronic wash of The Postal Service and takes on a variety of other influences along the way.
The b-sides included prove Maps’ ability to create electronic influenced pop music that leaves a lasting impression. Both ‘I Was Born Twice’ and ‘We’re Not In Kansas anymore follow the formula that ‘It Will Find You’ sets out and all three really deliver, indicating good things for the forthcoming album.
As far as electronica goes, boundaries are not being pushed back with this release, but it is nonetheless an enchanting song. All that remains is for me to provide a bad pun about ‘finding things’ with ‘maps’. But I’m not going to do that.
****
First published on rockfeedback.com. See it here.
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