Beware And Be Grateful
The best way of describing Maps & Atlases’ ambitious indie record is to call it textured. The band are regularly described in the music press as being ‘math rock’ (whatever that is), but I’d just call it alternative rock with elements of folk. What Maps & Atlases have added to the mix on their second album is significant use of sampling and other imported effects, and – crucially – the repeated layering of instruments and vocals. This gives the whole thing a kaleidoscopic effect and means that it rewards repeated listens in a way that comparable indie records can’t manage. On first play through, I thought this was just a straight indie album: good but unremarkable. Over time though, more and more is uncovered. There are elements of bands like Vampire Weekend, Foals and Grizzly Bear here, but the textured nature of Beware and be Grateful gives it a unique edge. The tentative steps of opener ‘Old and Grey’ bloom into a bass curio, giving things a nicely off kilter start. ‘Remote & Dark Years’ could be on MTV but it would be an interloper, and ‘Vampires’ is a spiky little rock song. ‘Old Ash’ is very Vampire Weekend, right down to the vocal stylings, while closing track ‘Important’ drifts away on waves of layered piano. A quirky labour of love.