The Mind Games of Maps
Oct 21, 2009 1:59 PM, Kristi Kates
Northampton's James Chapman (aka Maps) definitely played more than a few mind games with his latest CD. But these particular games weren't aimed at deception, but at a winning philosophy. With the album's theme being "mental states," Chapman says that the lyrics and the set's feel were a very personal thing that were inspired in part by leaving psychotropics behind and in part by a more positive approach to life itself.
Don't get him wrong: He's not telling you what to do, but a new philosophy that Chapman discovered helped him focus on his own growth and that of the album.
"I came across the work of Marsha Linehan (author of This One Moment: Skills for Everyday Mindfulness) some years ago," Chapman explains, "and the message that there is always a way from hard times to hope has stayed with me. It seemed to give a focus to the songs on the album. But I suppose everyone needs to find their own way."
Chapman's way, as far as recording that new album—which he appropriately dubbed Turning the Mind (Mute, 2009)—was to rely on both the well-regarded The Contino Rooms studio in London and the equally reliable production skills of pal Tim Holmes (Death in Vegas).
"Tim was on co-production duties on this one," Chapman confirms. "He used a combination of Logic and an old version of Pro Tools in case we needed some different plug-ins on an Apple Mac. And he likes to record onto a RADAR 24-track machine, especially when doing vocals."
With most songs kept in the box until the final mixes ("so we could have recall," Chapman explains), Holmes helmed the whole production from an Audient 36-channel board, with the vocals taking precedence when it was time for them to be set on top. But vocal production was kept as simple as possible, with Chapman's preference for outboard vocal gear taking center stage.
"No great secret here as far as the vocal production goes," he says with a laugh. "It's just an AKG 414 mic into a Focusrite Producer Pack mic pre, and then through a distressor and into the RADAR 24. Reverbs and delays were from a Yamaha SPX-900; you still can't beat outboard gear for stuff like that!"
While the approach may have been basic, Chapman was not adverse to taking those vocals to the next level with some far more detailed structure and experimentation. On the song "I Dream of Crystal," surprising depth is revealed as the track's jovial, bright melody unfolds to unveil far more serious subject matter underneath, with the airy sounds courtesy stacks of layered vocals alongside a plethora of '80s movie synths.
"We tracked the vocals quite a lot on that one," Chapman says, "and used some good old Eventide 3000 Ultraharmonizers."
Chapman will be taking Maps' sound live on the road this fall and winter to introduce fans new and old to Turning the Mind's collection of evocative and mindful songs, and he's pared down the band to rely on just one musical pal to help him perform the live set.
"We've moved on from the original five-piece setup to become a two-man band," he says. "And the plan is to take the show on the road. The other member of Maps now is August Jacobsen, who is a terrific musician and top man. We've built up a great rapport in a relatively short time, so I'm really excited about what the next few months will bring."
CONTINO ROOMS EQUIPMENT SPEC
Sony PCM R500 DAT
24-track Pro Tools LE
Console
Audient ASP 8024 36-channel in-line
Tape Machine
RADAR 24
Outboard
Focusrite Producer Pack
TLA Ivory Series mic preamp and stereo valve EQ, stereo valve comp
AF Easy Rider stereo compressors (2)
Distresser mono valve compressor
Tube-Tec EQ A1
Manley Pultec-Type EQ
Mutator stereo filter
Vermona phaser
AF Aura Exciter
Yamaha SPX-990 multi-effects, SPX-900 multi-effects (3)
TC Electronic D2 delay
Roland SRV reverb
Eventide H3000 UltraHarmonizer
Fender twin guitar amp
Various mics
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