Chloë Cooper (Keys),
Briony Luttrell (Cello, Keys, Samples)
Chris Perren (Guitar, Electronics),
Jac Hicks (Drums, Percussion)
Andrew White (Bass guitar, Electronics),
Plus the odd guest performance by:
Sangdae Yang楊尚大 (Drums and Percussion),
Shem Allen (Guitar/Vocals),
Lisa Millar (Violin),
Hikaru Sugimoto (Drums, Bass Guitar),
Nick Smethurst (Guitar, Pedals of doom),
65daysofstatic, Mogwai, The Books, Mono, Mum, The Postal Service, Tunng, Thom Yorke, Pivot, Pinback, Toe, Four Tet, Susumu Yokota, Buffalo Daughter, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Explosions in the Sky, The Cinematic Orchestra...etc etc.
Mimicry of Lines and Light available on Lofly Recordings!
Get a copy at Rockinghorse, CD Baby or iTunes.
on Mimicry of Lines and Light:
"a very fulfilling and engrossing release.
The record’s two halves only really share melodies and some basic structures and both of them are intriguing updates on the post-rock template. ‘Lights’ is a titillatingly abstract compendium of fractured melodies and angular sonics that successfully manages to evoke the same alien beauty of its parent genre, while ‘Lines’ sees Mr Maps condensing post-rock’s labyrinthine majesty into giddy, streamlined rushes of rambunctious euphoria. ...an exceedingly promising debut for a young band."
- Matt O'Neill, Time Off
"If you take the time to dig, you’ll find a world of exceptionally creative types, producing music of a world class nature. If you haven’t already been, let me introduce you to Mr. Maps - a local five-piece, whose sweeping, rock-laden but classically implemented instrumentals hark back to the sounds of Mogwai, Sigur Ros and Boards of Canada. At times haunting and spine-chillingly tense, at other points tender and reflective, Chris Perren and his bandmates produce music that will appeal to shoe-gazing folks as well as peeps who enjoy bruised melodies and dark beats reminisce of DJ Krush and DJ Shadow."
The Matchstick, Scene Magazine
Sounds Like
A $50 bottle of wine, chugged straight out of the bottle.
MR. MAPS… an instrumental rock band from Brisbane, Australia.
Mr. Maps formed in early 2008, and make a unique brand of instrumental rock. They use soaring live instrumentation punctuated by electronic glitches and cuts, bridging the gap between the folktronica of Four Tet and the grand post-rock sounds of Mogwai. The compositions are experimental and meticulous, with an air of optimism and beauty. Live reviews have been littered with such words as "precise", "energetic" and "breathtaking". Sonic comparisons have been made with bands such as Battles, Tortoise, toe, Pinback, and 65daysofstatic.
In March 2009 Mr. Maps released “Mimicry of Lines and Light”, a double EP which embodies both sides of the Mr. Maps coin: heavily processed cut-and-paste experiments vs. raw band energy. It was launched in February 2009 at the Roundhouse Theatre, supported by Qua.
The release consists of 2 discs with contrasting versions of 5 tracks, documenting the development of the band as well as the way Mr. Maps make music. The songs were originally written by recording live jam sessions & cutting drums, guitars & keyboards into brand new works. These songs were then re-interpreted by Mr. Maps as a live band.
- The "Lights" disc contains these original “cut-up” compositions; a folktronica inspired rearrangement of improvised recordings. The works are an experiment embracing accidental and fleeting moments, and stitching these into a broader musical vision.
- The "Lines" disc captures the dynamic energy of the band in live studio recordings of the same songs, played together in one room as single takes, with very few edits or overdubs, and no click-tracks. The songs were recorded on vintage analogue equipment by Steve Bartlett, deliberately employing a technique completely opposite to how the original material was written.
2009 has seen Mr. Maps play to full venues in Brisbane and Sydney, and 2 of their songs nominated as finalists in the prestigious QSong Awards. They are currently busy writing and recording material for a new album, and sketching out tour plans.
We think we're alright, but why listen to us when these knowledgeable folk are here to inform you:
"Listening to Mr. Maps is like reading a story full of twists, turns and surprises, and with multiple plot-lines of keyboard, bass, drums, cello and electronic noise. Each one goes off on their individual tangents, but somehow it is all relevant, and everything comes together in the final denouement. ...Mr. Maps is one of Brisbane’s most intellectual and innovative bands."
- Tian, FasterLouder
"Tonight is really all about local five-piece post-rockers Mr. Maps, launching their Mimicry Of Lines & Light EP. I have high expectations, which they not only live up to, but thoroughly and convincingly annihilate. Their music is beautiful, elegant and explosive; the musicians are driving and skillful. Drummer Sangdae Yang is simply a machine, the only correct response to his performance being: holy shit. Later in the set two string musicians are brought in and the combined efforts of all seven on stage is pure musical bliss. ‘Til The Money Outruns Us is especially dynamic, and This Mess Is A Place is a superb climax to the set. The scary thing is that when compared to internationally acclaimed contemporaries like Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, these guys more than measure up. If you see only one local band this year, you better make damn sure it’s Mr. Maps."
- Michael Pincott, Rave Magazine
"a supremely impressive display of the post/math-rock sound. If I were to compare them to other bands (and I'm about to), I'd say that they're like the flawlessly technical Battles attempting to incorporate the wide-eyed sound of Sigur Ros' 'Takk' album, or if the expansive Do Make Say Think combined their lengthy jazz-inspired workouts with the disco-rock of Of Montreal"
- Cam, Before Hollywood
"Mr Maps... are greeted with a rapturous reception that suggests that many members of the audience view the group as the main attraction this evening - and not without justification. An exceptionally disciplined cadre of musicians,"
- Matt O'neill, Time Off
"I am reminded that Mr Maps are, quite simply, the best post-rock band in this city. Their music is… beautiful, beautiful noise including everything from sampled feedback, rolling electric piano, intricate guitar interplay to powerhouse, fuzz-laden basslines, while the drummer… what can I say… is f---ing unbelievable."
- denistheman, FasterLouder
"Mr. Maps were nothing short of amazing"
- fortyone, FasterLouder
To book Mr. Maps, send an email to chrisperren@gmail.com
hey Mr Maps thanks for the support you guys rocked valley fiesta sorta like that project Phil Collins used to play in Brand-X before he ever did the Genesis or solo thing!
I am launching my new album BURSt through the roof this Friday at the Uber Bar, West End, Brisbane. Come party! Spcial guests Wild Marmalade, Spankinhide & DJ Dakini. 8PM $15
Brisbane outfit Toy Balloon will release their debut album Toy Division on
November 8 through Lofly Records, and to celebrate will perform an east coast
launch tour throughout November.
Formed in 2007, Toy Balloon was
originally a fledgling two-piece made up by Nimai Etheridge’s uniquely melodic
wall-of-sound guitar and Greg Cooper’s beautiful sequenced electronic
compositions. The band have since matured into a four piece featuring Chloe
Cooper (Mr Maps) on key boards and Ben Green on drums.
The album was
recorded and mixed at the Lofly Hangar in Brisbane, a DIY performance space that
Toy Balloon has been an integral part of creating. Fostering emerging artists
and left-of-centre music, the Hangar acts as a performance space, recording
studio, and meeting place; and has resulted in a record with a rich, layered
sound reminiscent of New Order, Mogwai, Boards of Canada, and LCD
Soundsystem.
Catch Toy Balloon launch Toy Division at a venue near you
this Oct/ November.
TOY BALLOON TOUR DATES:
Brisbane- Thursday 29
October- The Zoo, Fortitude Valley w/ Moon Jog, Tin Can Radio and Doom
Doom.
Sydney- Wednesday 4 November- ‘Upstarts’ at Spectrum, Darlinghurst
w/ Convaire and Black Bear Brown Bear
Sydney- Thursday 5 November- Oxford
Arts Factory, Darlinghurst w/ World Champion and others
Melbourne-
Saturday 7 November- Pony, Melbourne w/ Love Connection and
Aoi
Melbourne- Sunday 8 November- El Joyero, Melbourne
Toy
Division is released November 6 on Lofly Records, with distribution through MGM.
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