Cyclic Defrost Magazine

Mr. Maps - Mimicry Of Lines And Light (Lofly Recordings)

Posted: 21 May 2009 11:30 PM PDT

The premise behind Mimicry of Lines and Light is quite an interesting one. A double EP, it contains the same band performing the same set of 5 songs on each disc. The catch is that the first disc (Light) is a studio production - the sounds of the 5-piece recorded then beaten and bent in and out of shape via studio wizardry - while disc two (Lines) sees the band reconvening to play the songs in single takes in the one room together, like you might hear at their live shows. With each disc running at around 30 minutes, each stands on its own as a listening experience but, quite naturally, comparison is inevitable.

Mr. Maps can fairly comfortably be slipped into the post-rock genre but with enough individuality to sculpt their own voice among the throngs of bands already positioned there. This is most evident on Light, the studio disc. Here, the moods of the tracks are constantly jotted with little pieces of rhythmic invention - bells cut up, junk sounding percussion loops building then falling over - along with shards of other processed sounds to punctuate the flowing rapture of the main guitar/piano action. A cellist and a couple of synths also keep things interesting. These elements easily overcome the slight problem with the ‘live’ disc. In the fully live context, the music can sometimes blur a little - the massive peaks and troughs that would obviously take place on the concert stage flattened by mastering compression on the recording. The sonic detail in the studio versions overcome this problem with ease. With that in mind, my pick of the two discs is the studio version. Which is not to say the other is redundant - but I’m sure each listener will have their own preference.

Whether fully live or processed in the studio, however, neither disc would be successful without the actual music being good. And it is. Unlike many a post-rock outfit, Mr. Maps do not settle into comfort zones of timbre or rhythm. The tracks are engagingly discernible from each other as the band play with tempos (some particularly upbeat work in ”Til The Money Outruns Us’ being a highlight) that other similar bands would shy away from. Though they also do peaceful beauty with aplomb, ‘I See Them, They’re Like Mountains’ climbing the scales of grandeur that the title might suggest.

I’m a little sad that I missed the band’s recent live venture to Sydney - the double EP giving plenty of reason to expect that Mr. Maps would present a monumental live show. For now, the recordings will suffice - an excellent introduction to the different facets of the band.

Adrian Elmer