Plus ça change: album number three from Maps picks up where 2009’s ‘Turning The Mind’ (Clash review) left off, with 10 tracks of soul-bearing introspection swathed in layers of rich reverb, icy chill and ephemeral echoes of 30 years of synth pop.

The theme here is one of acceptance and moving on, a realisation that sometimes you have to set yourself free in order to grow. Those reflections are delivered with a quiet, numbed resignation by James Chapman in an atmospheric, wide-screen take on melancholia.

‘Left Behind’ is the most optimistic track here: a plaintive story of trust and friendship built on delicately shimmering tones that progress resolutely upward.

9/10

Words: Mat Smith

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Album Of The Week

Elsewhere... Maps reviews the week's singles

Clash chats to Maps

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