Counter Remedies: A Maps Playlist

10Minute Read

Music

Written by Wil Troup & Maps

“Throughout my life there have been pieces of music that have always provided a ‘musical medicine’ for me without fail. Here is a playlist of some of my ‘Counter Remedies’.”

James Chapman, the endless creative force behind Maps, has continually evolved his multi-layered electronica, blending the analogue and the digital to create immersive sonic beauty. From early classical roots to the release of albums like ‘We Can Create’ and ‘Colours. Reflect. Time. Loss’ he’s continually evolved, culminating in the release of his fifth studio album, ‘Counter Melodies.’ and ‘Counter Continuo,’ a 6-track companion piece.

“The sound of my album ‘Counter Melodies’ was born out of a period in my life when I was looking to escape from the outside world. I immersed myself in creating an uplifting, euphoric album. I find that music has a real power to change the way we feel, whether it is music I am creating myself, or just listening to at home.”

Chapman has put us together an accompanying “Counter Continuo” playlist offering a glimpse into his sonic universe of Maps.

Counter Continuo is out now Order here.

Topics

Maps Playlists

LISTEN

Harmonia - Notre Dame

This is an amazing track, and one of my favourites from ‘Deluxe’. It begins with a warm arpeggiated organ embrace, and then unfolds into a whole other dreamlike entity. Just a beautifully uplifting piece of music.

Harmonia - Notre Dame

This is an amazing track, and one of my favourites from ‘Deluxe’. It begins with a warm arpeggiated organ embrace, and then unfolds into a whole other dreamlike entity. Just a beautifully uplifting piece of music.
The Byrds - My Back Pages

The Byrds covered quite a few Dylan songs, and this is an incredible reinterpretation. It’s a track I return to almost religiously, and it feels like home. I also love the line “using ideas as my maps” 🙂
Spooky - Stereo

I bought this the year it came out (1995) and it had a huge influence on me. The overlapping melody lines are so well constructed. Every element is there for a reason. It is a track that makes me feel that everything is right in the world. It had that effect on me back then and it still does every time I hear it.
Claude Debussy - Pour le piano, L.95 - II. Sarabande

One of my favourite piano pieces ever written. It is just a perfect escape from everything, and slows my thoughts down in the best possible way. The pauses between the chords are as important as the notes played – it is a really powerful piece.
Javier Segura - Malaguenas 2

I only discovered this track fairly recently and I think it is incredible. It has an intense melancholy to it, but is also intensely euphoric. It is a really emotional piece of electronic music, and is a track to totally immerse yourself in.
James Holden - Worlds Collide Mountains Form

Taken from the album ‘Imagine This Is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities’, one of my favourite recent album releases. I am a huge fan of everything James Holden does, and the album is just mind-blowing. This track has a definite Krautrock feel to it, and I love all the glowing textures and psychedelic synth lines.
Maxime Denuc - Infinite End

Another recent purchase for me, and a hugely exciting discovery. There is something about arpeggiated organ music that has always connected emotionally with me, and this track hits the spot! The whole album is amazing. Both uplifting and calming.
Transient Waves - Wavelength

I have loved this track ever since I bought the Rocket Girl compilation it appears on in 1999. It is perfect for headphones, and long train journeys. It takes me into a completely different space whenever I put it on. Transient Waves are a band I frequently return to when the world seems too noisy.
Ananda Shankar - Raghupati

I discovered Ananda Shankar after hearing a track in a David Holmes DJ mix in the 90s and bought this album soon after. The whole album is magical, but it is ‘Raghupati’ that I always return to. It feels like such a celebration and an uplifting release of emotion. The end section is like ‘I Am The Resurrection’ for sitar. Just epic!
Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians ‘Pulses’

This is a piece of music that I have fallen more and more in love with over the years. It is a masterpiece. The whole piece is something I will put on whenever I want to be transported to another place. It is totally hypnotic and I always feel changed in some way after listening to it. I chose the ‘Pulses’ section for this playlist, but I recommend listening to the whole piece as it really is an experience like no other.