Maps @ Brudenell Social Club
By Steve ElvidgeI had high hopes for this one, their Mercury award nominated 'We Can Create' has been getting daily spins at Casa Stevish all through our so called summer and hasn't faded.
Still, I had no real idea how Maps mainman James Chapman would turn what is essentially a bedroom album into a live show but, in going for a keyboard heavy rock line up, he's opened up the songs to their own influences. All the hints and whispers that come through when listening to the album at home shine so blindingly live, all the obvious ones from the 90's shoegaze movement like My Bloody Valentine, Spacemen 3 etc but also touches decades older, from the 60's, the Velvet Underground, the Byrds ( via Teenage Fan Club) and even the Beach Boys in the, just occasionally unconvincing, harmonies. You also hear more the recent vibes of electro and even Americana, Grandaddy for instance. Jeez, the drummer even got a little James Brown on us a couple of times before remembering where he was.
The 5 man strong crew ran through the album almost in order with the standouts on the album 'You Don't Know Her Name' and 'Eloise' making really convincing live. It was nice to realise that even songs I hadn't been 100% sold on sounded stronger than I'd heard before 'Don't fear' and new single 'to The Sky' for example., always the sign of a great gig and something that makes you tingle with anticipation at the prospect of revisiting the songs with fresh ears at home again. And what a lovely bunch of guys.
I missed the first support through being unaccountably delayed in the pub next door (you'd be amazed how often that happens) but was in time to catch Ulrich Schnauss. Shame. What the decent turnout witnessed was Schnauss sat at his laptop set up twiddling knobs for 30 mins. A warm multi-layered techno filled the room but could have been coming from anywhere, I'd rather have got the CD and listened to it loud at home watching Strictly X Dance Factor with the sound turned down. At least it would been a laugh seeing Ulrica/Kelly/Lee/Soap nomark gurning in time. Not a lot of humour in Ulrich Schuss (who'd a thunk!?) Some ideas for you Ulrich. Be honest with the setup and get some props in, try sitting on an unmade single bed and perch some mouldy pot noodles tubs on the amp. Also get your mum, trying to watch crime watch next door, to bang on the wall when it gets too loud. Lastly, wear a tux and bow-tie. Irony.
