Joe Clay
Win tickets to the ATP finals

It was a brave decision by Maps’ main man James Chapman to eschew the songs of his 2007 Mercury prize-nominated debut We Can Create in favour of offerings from Turning the Mind (his second album due in September), and one that didn’t quite pay off. The bulk of his 45-minute set was new to the audience, showcasing a stripped-back, darker electronic sound with echoes of the acid-house pioneers the Beloved and big on 4/4 techno beats and the portentous key changes of classic trance.
Vocally, Chapman channelled New Order’s Bernard Sumner, but reduced to a duo (with his rave-kid partner in crime, August), he neglected his duties as a frontman to focus on playing synths and drums, and thus missed making that vital connection with the crowd.
The Antibes-native Anthony Gonzalez of M83 had the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how it should be done, and did so. He opened with a blissfully indulgent elongated ambient synth odyssey that recalled Jean Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream crossed with the reverbed drones of Spiritualized, nurturing a palpable atmosphere of anticipation within a crowd that was by now primed and ready to go off. The presence on stage of a drum kit and additional keyboard and microphone suggested that a full band experience was imminent, and when Gonzalez strapped on his guitar to be joined by his bandmates (the ethereal vocalist Morgan Kibby and drummer Loïc Maurin), the night entered a completely new dimension.
The gothic and dreamy Graveyard Girl was incredible, followed by a billowing, majestic We Own the Sky. Kim and Jessie was pure celestial pop — like a Cocteau Twins soundtrack to a John Hughes film, and the first real sign that Gonzalez should have cracked the Top 20 by now.
But if ever a band saved the best for last it was M83 — Couleurs was a 3am Balearic classic in waiting, reminiscent of a François Kevorkian remix of a Depeche Mode track, perfect for closing an epic seven-hour DJ set in a sweaty Ibiza nightclub, and a fitting end to an impeccable set.
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Get ready for the winter sports season, with our resort guides and snow reports
We are backing British business, what is the confidence of the nation and what businesses are succeeding?
Growing demand for energy, oil that is harder to reach and the rise of carbon dioxide emissions. We examine the energy challenge
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
36-month car lease
on contract hire for
£359.99 plus VAT pm
12 months for the price of 11 and a 5% discount.
Offer ends 31/11/09
The UK's leading alternative to showroom finance.
Finance packages tailored to your needs.
Minimum loan of £15,000
Car Insurance
c£100,000 + car, bonus & bens
Lord Search & Selection
Midlands
Competitive
Barclaycard
Competitive
EVERSHEDS
London and Manchester
£80-95,000
Clay McGuire Executive Selection
Moments from Battersea Park.
For sale with Winkworth.
See your free Experian credit report beforehand
Book now & save over £100pp.
11 cool resorts, lowest prices... Early Booking offers 15 Nov.
20% off selected Azores holidays taken in October with Sunvil Discovery
Get covered on your travels with a superb range of policies at great prices. Visit InsureandGo.com
World Class Golf, Spa and preferential Beach Club. Private estate overlooking West Coast
Villas from £275 per night inclusive of Golf
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.