Music
Maps: 'To The Sky'
Released on Monday, Oct 8 2007
Published Thursday, Oct 4 2007, 16:23 BST | By Alex Fletcher | 1 comment
Well sometimes the Mercury Music Prize judges do get it right. When they're not busy gifting out awards to novelty nu-rave outfits, Talvin Singh, Ms Dynamite and M People, they occasionally have the decency to bring the public's attention to a hidden musical gem. Northampton's James Chapman, aka Maps, created one of the albums of 2007 with We Can Create, and 'To The Sky' is one of its prime cuts.
A mixture of widescreen soundscapes and hypnotic, floating electronica, it shows that music can still be expansive and experimental without cheap gimmicks or chin stroking over-indulgence. With the sort of ice-cool Icelandic production you'd expect from Sigur Ros, it skews together euphoric lyrics and droning - space-rock, not too dissimilar to the more ambitious and best moments from Spiritualized. A blissful track to enjoy under a crisp autumn sunset, best enjoyed after a few cheeky cigarettes - we'd imagine.
A mixture of widescreen soundscapes and hypnotic, floating electronica, it shows that music can still be expansive and experimental without cheap gimmicks or chin stroking over-indulgence. With the sort of ice-cool Icelandic production you'd expect from Sigur Ros, it skews together euphoric lyrics and droning - space-rock, not too dissimilar to the more ambitious and best moments from Spiritualized. A blissful track to enjoy under a crisp autumn sunset, best enjoyed after a few cheeky cigarettes - we'd imagine.
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This has got to be the single of the year, the guitar sample from forgotton band Sweeney's Men just makes this an unlifting, powerful single. Will be buying 10 copies when it's released on Monday. Also, get the album, as it's got lots of tracks just as good as TTS.