Maps
Vicissitude
Mute Records
Street: 07.09
Maps = (Depeche Mode – David Gahan) + M83
A key definition of vicissitude is variation. James Chapman, the force behind Maps, began these songs at his Northamptonshire home, the place where his Mercury Prize-nominated debut We Can Create was recorded. After shaping Vicissitude with an acoustic guitar, Chapman painstakingly built up their electronic nuances. The whole thing is a lush, minimally electronic shoegazing affair, buzzing with Chapman’s pop craftsmanship and wispy vocals. It’s a bright, optimistic, open sounding album—a great new addition to the Mute family. –Christian Schultz