Maps and Atlases
BIOGRAPHY
Formed in 2004 after meeting at Chicago’s Columbia College art school, Maps and Atlases sought to create a sound which melded both technical and organic influences, taking their lead from bands such as Don Caballero and Hella. In their own words they ‘offer songs that wrestle themselves from flailing, algebraic fits of spazzy guitar notes and drum ruptured to lulling, voice-driven melodies that speak stories using lyrical images strung together like soup cans chasing a Cadillac.’ Crikey.
Gaining a strong local following from a heavy tour schedule around the Midwest states and becoming a regular fixture of Chicago’s basement gig scene including like minded bands such as Russian Circles, Matt and Kim, and Karma with a K gave them the impetus to self release their first EP, ‘Tree, Swallows, Houses’ in 2006. It sold out quickly and provoked many positive reviews from critics and fans alike, particularly due to the standard of technical musicianship and the competence and sophistication of the song writing. The band toured this EP for nearly two years and it was later released on vinyl by Friction Records.
In late 2006 the band signed to Sargent House, which was at the time strictly a management company. Releasing the reissue of ‘Tree, Swallows, Houses’ would lead Sargent House to officially release many more records from the other unsigned bands that it managed, later becoming the de facto label for many of them.
In 2007 the band began to tour nationally, and members also began work on new material for an album, as well as side projects including Cast Spells, Hey! Tonal and Mountain Lion Mountain. Towards the end of the year tensions began to grow within the band and new material was coming slowly, so they decided to simply release a new EP rather than full-length album and take some time off.
In July 2008 Sargent House released the EP "You and Me and the Mountain" (recorded with their long time producer/engineer Dada) which took many fans by surprise due to its slower pacing and more folk-oriented songwriting. It was still, however, warmly received by fans and critics and applauded for its original songwriting style.
In late 2009 Maps & Atlases decided to part ways with Sargent House. They spent the majority of 2009 writing and recording songs for their first full-length album. These songs were recorded by producer Jason Cupp (Finch, Nurses, Good Old War) at various studio locations. In March 2010 the band signed with Barsuk Records in America and Fat Cat Records for Europe and the UK. Their debut album entitled Perch Patchwork was released in June this year and praised for showcasing a more mature, diverse and accessible sound, compared to their classic math-rock origins.
RELEASES
Bird Barnyard EP (self released) - 2005
Split EP with The Antenora (self released) - 2005
Tree, Swallows, Houses EP (self released 2006, re-released by Sargent House 2007)
You and Me and the Mountain EP (Sargent House) - 2008
Perch Patchwork LP (Barsuk Records) - 2010
TOUR DATES
24th sept- Grinnell College- Grinnell, Iowa
8th Oct- Resident Records Instore- Brighton, UK
8th Oct- The Hope- Brighton, UK
9th Oct- Bruedenell Social Club- Leeds, UK
10th Oct- Captain’s Rest- Glasgow, Scotland, UK
11th Oct- Deaf Institute- Manchester, UK
12th Oct- Cargo- London, UK – ROCKFEEDBACK SHOW
14th Oct- Point Ephemere- Paris France
LINKS
VIDEOS
Maps and Atlases - On Stage @ SXSW 2010
Maps and Atlases- MTV 2 On the Rise
maps and atlases- witch
maps and atlases- artichokes (live on WNUR)
maps and atlases- you me and the mountain @ Granada theatre