Live at Garage, London. Emerging from Chicago during 2004 as a four piece, Maps & Atlases initially formed part of that city’s burgeoning diverse underground scene of the early 2000’s (which embraced a wide variety of post-hardcore, math rock, indie, punk and emo acts). With both folk and experimental music as core early influences, Maps & Atlases were originally lumped into the math rock category. However, over the years, they definitely outgrew that categorisation, particularly through their first two critically acclaimed albums, 2010’s extraordinary ‘Perch Patchwork’ and 2012’s ‘Beware and Be Grateful’. We caught them in London during 2012 when they were touring in support of that second album. Inexplicably, they went into hiatus (at least on the recording front) for the next 6 years, re-emerging in 2018 as a trio and with a new album in tow, ‘Lightlessness Is Nothing New’. Sadly, not much has been heard of them in recent years (we’re pretty sure COVID didn’t help!), but hopefully we haven’t seen the last of these guys.  

 

Folk & Acoustic, Alternative