If rock music is comparable to a game of checkers,
Maps & Atlases would be Bobby Fischer, playing the similar but more intellectual game of chess. Their first EP,
Tree, Swallows, Houses is a busy record full of mathematical mastery in the vein of
Don Caballero and
Hella. But the bonus here is, where many math rock bands are all too often preoccupied with showing off their ability to play complex rhythms and scales, even when it makes the music unlistenable,
Maps & Atlases contain their sudden changes and maximal musical acrobatics within the confines of a relatively standard four-minute pop song structure that actually sounds like a song. Granted, the band doesn't use a typical verse-chorus-verse format, but instead, something more like a
Deerhoof or
TV on the Radio composition; the destinations of their songs are clear despite the detours they take. Chances are, if you're a musician, you will be completely floored by the chops of this virtuosic four-piece. And if you're not a musician, you can enjoy their tunes without being overwhelmed by their technique. The effect is somewhat like
Tortoise on pep pills, with harmonious melodies and strong pop sensibilities, and led by a singer/guitarist who sounds a bit like
Nick Drake if he were huffing helium. Surprisingly, his unique vocal range doesn't detract from the equation, but instead completes it, to give the music and arrangements a sense of fullness. The disc is jam-packed with flurries of bass and guitar notes, but before the rampant tapped-arpeggios and odd thrashing drum patterns can get obnoxious, the bandmembers show off their sweet side with two rich, mellow psychedelic folk-based numbers. These continue the fancy guitar fretwork trickery with tapped harmonics while simultaneously slapping a bongo beat on the body and bending sustained notes by loosening the tuning pegs. The technical wizardry might be too much for some, but if you can keep up, you'll be bobbing your head with envy when you're not shaking your head and smiling at this adventurous combination of art rock, indie rock, and prog rock. ~ Jason Lymangrover