Now Streaming: Delicate Steve - Positive Force

It's a strange wonder that I haven't listened to New Jersey rock quintet Delicate Steve before today, the band has played shows with some of my absolute favorite artists/bands like Maps & Atlases, Buke & Gase, & tUnE-yArDs to name but a few that I'm undoubtedly missing. If you've paid any attention to the amount of praise I've given Collections of Colonies of Bees or Phil Cook & His Feat then you probably know instrumental albums are a definite favorite of mine - a favorite where few brilliant, shining works lie. Well Delicate Steve is about to change all that.

Featuring bright, exuberant melodies and fanciful instrumental songcraft, Delicate Steve's Positive Force is poised to become the soundtrack to my summer and might very well be yours if you let it. Each track is a veritable pop gem which puts a decidedly interesting and unique spin on world-influenced music. There's no playing make believe like you sometimes get but the influence funnels into their music alongside a sort of middle-end rock aesthetic and the result is an album you'll pretty much have to pry out of my hands. It's everything I didn't know I was looking for and then some.

You can stream Delicate Steve's Positive Force on NPR now until it's July 10th release date.

Fang Island - "Asunder"

I distinctly remember when I had first heard of Brooklyn's Fang Island, back when Maps & Atlases was still on the Sargent House roster and I relied very much on Myspace to tell me what I should be listening to. And yet for some odd reason, and despite that during 2010 I had seen numerous publications talking about them, I filed them away for later and never really drew them out until today when a stray tweet featuring their new single from Under the Radar caught my eye.

What a mistake that was. While Fang Island has moved away from the purely instrumental rock of its early days but even as the words filtered in, the instrumentals have kept a noticeable and impressive level of importance. Fang Island is more than your dime-a-dozen Brooklyn band which makes the release of their third album, entitled Major, a calendar-marking event. New album cut "Asunder" sounds like it could be right alongside any Fang Island era track. And yet the track has a kind of newness to it, there's a wealth of ideas that the band properly channel to give it a multi-tiered level of enjoyment that's much more than it's ear-catching upbeat beat-driven jam. The melody versus counter melody in the guitars in the first instrumental break is one of those moments that just makes your jaw gape. If anything it just proves Fang Island's talent, taking their place among those instrumental rock titans like Explosions in the Sky and Collections of Colonies of Bees, a place that's they deserve.



Fang Island's Major is out July 24th on Sargent House. Mark your calendar, you don't want to miss it.

(via Under the Radar)

Watch: Maps & Atlases - "Remote & Dark Years"

Chicago technical pop rock quartet Maps & Atlases recently dropped their sophomore album Beware and Be Grateful which is already shaping up to be one of my favorites of the year. They also dropped a video for "Remote & Dark Years" today that's a bit surprising. But not in the way you might be thinking. Maps & Atlases have always had creative ideas for music videos but this one takes the cake by far. A tale of love and grand larceny, a punkish couple break into a car and take it on sorts of wonderful nature-related dates. Throughout the video there's ominous flashes of a fiery explosion that adds some tension to the highly-illegal act turned cute recreation. I won't spoil the end but essentially, there's a twist that was pretty unexpected.

Watch the video for Maps & Atlases' "Remote & Dark Years":

Maps & Atlases - "Fever"

We've already gotten a hint of it on Chicago technical pop foursome Maps & Atlases track "Winter" but their latest track "Fever", pretty much guarantees that the folk-inspired sound with occasional dips into chamber pop will be a thing of the past on their upcoming sophomore album Beware and Be Grateful. Which turns out isn't all that bad.

"Fever" with it's skittering guitar riffs continues Maps & Atlases transformation into a highly accessible rock group almost completely without rival. While no longer relying heavily on complicated rhythms, the technique and precision and just, all around talent that the group mastered in their "math rock" days really shine through here. And yet, it's the best of both worlds - Maps & Atlases keep their distinctive sound (aided no doubt by Dave Davison's ever distinct vocals) while offering something that sounds different from their previous ventures (there's a kind of Phil Collins-esque big beat in Chris Hainey's drumming).  So while the sprawl of Perch Patchwork might be a thing of the past, Maps & Atlases newfound busy-ness might very well be for the better.

Hear Maps & Atlases' "Fever":


Maps & Atlases' Beware and Be Grateful is out April 17th on Barsuk Records.

Watch: Maps & Atlases ft. Good Old War - "Israeli Caves" live

Maps & Atlases' music is so technical, so precise, so delightfully engineered to make you love it that it's hard to imagine how they could possibly improve upon any of their tunes. Turns out, at least in this case, the answer is harmonies. In an acoustic session for Terror Eyes TV, Dave Davison enlists the aid of former label mates and friends Good Old War to put a new spin on "Israeli Caves" from Maps & Atlases 2010 debut Perch Patchwork. The result - pure and utterly gorgeousness. The boys of Good Old War are essentially made out of harmonies so hearing that along with Davison's folksy refrains is utter perfection. Maps & Atlases have a knack for picking cool and interesting people to cover their songs with them and this time is no different. Check out Dave Davison and Good Old War tackle "Israeli Caves":


Dave Davison FT. Good Old War "Israeli Caves" from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.

Maps & Atlases - "Winter"

You'd think a song called "Winter" would be a little less warm but when you reconcile that with the outrageously toasty winter we've had so far (at least here on the east coast) it's hardly surprising that the new track is so bright and sunny. Technical-pop rock quartet Maps & Atlases are gearing up to release their brand new album Beware and Be Grateful and if "Winter" is anything to go off of, it's gonna be a poppy romp.




You can watch the album trailer here:


(via Rolling Stone)

Maps & Atlases Beware and Be Grateful is out April 17th on Barsuk Records

Maps & Atlases release video for "Israeli Caves"

I had thought that a video couldn't get more endearing than OK GO's rescue dog laden one for "White Knuckles". And then Chicago tech-pop quartet Maps & Atlases put out this gem of a video for "Israeli Caves". The plot is rather simple. Little boy gets bullied and has his tricycle stolen by a bunch of adults in bear masks and the little kid makes a rather ingenious (and Kill Bill-esque) plan of revenge which is revealed through an adorably poorly written, misspelled, and backwards letters containing list. And of course, the boy wonder manages to do all these things and reclaim his stolen trike all while staying ridiculously cute. And a fun bonus: The little kid kind of looks (and dresses) similarly to Maps & Atlases singer/guitarist/bearded folk hero Dave Davison. This video could very well be his origin story.

Maps & Atlases release second single "Living Decorations"

Chicago technical pop rockers Maps & Atlases are back, this time with a brand new video for "Living Decorations", the second single off their debut album Perch Patchwork. The video, directed by the band's own Erin Elders, features the fictional Rick Reebok & The Analog Medallion (played by members of Loose Dudes and Gypsyblood) as a pretty grody band whose only redeeming trait seems to be that they're playing Maps & Atlases' song. Reebok for all his bad dancing and pop star behavior actually scores points when he acknowledges a fan during a concert(played by M&A's Dave Davison) and signs a poster for him. Enjoy the video for "Living Decorations":

Watch: Maps & Atlases - "Solid Ground"

Chicago technical pop rockers Maps & Atlases have been around for such a long time that sometimes you forget they're doing things for the first time, like their debut full length out earlier this year. Now the band just released their debut music video for "Solid Ground". The video, directed by Taryn Gould and Emily Kowalczyk, opens with Dave Davison floating isolated in a soil-filled canoe before the band appears on the different parts of the lake edge pushing and pulling Davison's canoe with the pure power of their playing until the reel him in back to shore. The video is delightful in that the plot doesn't override the music, instead merely separating the band members like they would be in a studio session, with each individual having their say which in turn doesn't do much until the band's individual parts and actions link up with each other. The video, beautifully shot, is staunchly minimalistic, a little trippy; and a whole lot of awesome. Enjoy Maps & Atlases debut video for "Solid Ground":

Maps & Atlases - Solid Ground from FatCat Records on Vimeo.

Random Musing: Maps & Atlases & The Willie Brown Bears

So this clip features a middle school drum-line from San Francisco's Willie Brown Academy by the name of the Willie Brown Bears. They had the unique experience of getting a chance to play with Chicago indie outfit, Maps & Atlases. Enjoy the interesting video.

Yourstru.ly Presents: Maps & Atlases from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Maps & Atlases - Perch Patchwork (2010)

Just several days ago Chicago-based technical pop/math rock band Maps & Atlases released their debut full-length album Perch Patchwork on Barsuk. Featuring several fan favorites from their live shows ("Pigeon" and "Israeli Caves"), the album is the latest in the band's efforts to provide more accessible and poppy songs though its not without uniqueness. The first two tracks on the album "Will", "The Charm", and have a sort of experimental vibe due to some sonic distortion. "Will" opens the album with a sort of hazy, wispy feel with Dave Davison's vocals floating over top before segue into "The Charm" with its military-like drumbeats, aforementioned distortion, and Davison repeatedly crooning "I don't think there is a sound that I hate more than the sound of your voice when you say I don't love you anymore". "Living Decorations" contrasts with its high energy, claps (or drums that sound super similar), and overall brighter sound. "Solid Ground", which the band premiered a couple months ago, wouldn't have been out of place on the band's previous release You, Me, and The Mountain and marks the band's first use (at least that I can think of) of instruments outside their normal guitar, bass, drums, an random percussion with the use of flutes. Instrumental track "Is" is, unsurprisingly, the shortest track on the album and is minimalistic in its approach: each instrument entering sequentially with its own short obstinato before fading out. "Israeli Caves" is similar to earlier track "Living Decorations" in that it shifts the album in a more upbeat direction. "Banished Be Cavalier" follows in the same vein, "Carrying the Wet Wood" builds up from just two/three quickly played guitar notes and might best represent what the band was trying to achieve on the album. Complex but not distractingly so but also memorable and catchy. "Pigeon", one of the band's encores, finds its way on the album and gets a bit of a revamp with some additional instruments added to the middle of the song but other than that remains pretty much the same. "If This Is" adds some strings, shifts mood, tempo, and intensity, and manages to remind the listener of summer, beaches, and surfing (despite not being about any of those things) due to the characteristic surf rock jangle guitar. "Was" is another instrumental track like "Will" and "Is" and mellows out the album before leading into the lilting title track "Perch Patchwork" which pretty much combines every "odd" thing done on the album. The longest track on the album, nearly double the length of all the other tracks, starts with cello pizzicatos accompaning acoustic guitar and Davison's vocals with occasional string and flute flourishes before the strings become more involved melodically complimenting Davison. The track is the most uncharacteristic song from the band but is actually where the bandmembers' musicianship gets a chance to shine. Not only are they proficient on their instruments but they can also compose, arrange, and perform songs in a style they typically don't play in.

When I heard that the band would be employing a more pop-oriented sound on this album, I got a bit nervous that it wouldn't be the same trademark sound but Perch Patchwork manages to add in new qualities like strings while at same keeping the virtuosity and musicianship that drew me to them in the first place. Fans of the band have nothing to fear as the several of the songs would've fit on the other EPs now problem and the new songs that wouldn't are still good. Those new to the band will no doubt be captivated and hunger for more. For those in need of aural convincing, the album is currently streaming on the band's MySpace here.

Maps & Atlases reveal album and tour details

It's a good day for Maps & Atlases fans as they recently released a new track "Solid Ground" on their Myspace, revealed the release date of their debut full-length Perch Patchwork for June 26th,an announced a new US tour besides Scotland's Frightened Rabbit.

Hear the new track and check to see if their playing by you at their Myspace here:
http://www.myspace.com/mapsandatlases

Hear their two previous EPs to gear up for the latest release here:

Cast Spells on Daytrotter

Dave Davison, lead singer for technical pop band Maps & Atlases, also has a solo side project by the name of Cast Spells. The trademark twanginess of Davison's voice is there but the sound is a bit more stripped down allowing you to really hear Davison's songwriting efforts; a seemless blend of metaphor and folk-influenced pop goodness. After playing the Sargent House show at SXSW, Davison stopped by Daytrotter and you can hear the results here:
http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/cast-spells-concert/20031031-3738212.html

Also you can hear Cast Spells' debut release Bright Works and Baton EP here and at his bandcamp site.

Maps & Atlases sign to Barsuk Records

Chicago-based indie rock group Maps & Atlases announced earlier this year plans to record a full-length album. The band actually spent the better part of 2009 recording new material for the album in addition to touring. Though this will be the band's debut album the band has been together since 2004 releasing their Tree Swallows Houses and the You and Me and the Mountain EPs through Sargent House.

Now the band recently announced that they have signed to the Seattle indie record label, Barsuk Records. The album is expected to be released sometime this summer.