We Can Create
(Mute)

Despite the name, Maps is a one-man operation, the pseudonym of the Northamptonshire native James Chapman. Eschewing computers, he records straight onto a 16-track tape machine in his (presumably large) bedroom, creating lush, almost oppressive soundscapes that evoke both the glory days of shoegazing and contemporary American romantics in the vein of Postal Service.

Woozy pop songs such as You Don’t Know Her Name and Elouise are as light as Chapman gets, while the catchy current single, It Will Find You, and the fragile Don’t Fear are the two standout tracks. Eventually the insistent tick-tick of a programmed hi-hat cymbal proves distracting, but Chapman’s skill as a songwriter and arranger is undeniable.

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