New Release Tuesday: Fridge, Maps & The Polyphonic Spree

Fridge The Sun (Temporary Residence)

Kieran Hebden, Adem and Sam Jeffers have been working hard since 2001's Happiness, though perhaps not with each other. Hebden's Four Tet is almost as prolific as Prefuse spin-offs, and Adem has released one of the greatest folk-pop albums of the decade with Love & Other Planets (2006). Jeffers is no slouch, working hard in the graphic design and web industry, as well as continuing his musical aspirations. As the group reconvenes to release The Sun, their impatient audience finds them far less electronic than they might expect, utilizing heavier and more emphatic drum and bass arrangements than ever before, while Hebden continues to do his thing on both guitar, synths, loop machines and more. Combining harmony with this strange instrument called "the studio", Fridge find themselves slightly shorter than they have in the past, but not without a valiant effort combining more traditional elements with their (in this case) more unusual instrumentation and arrangement choices.

Fridge "Eyelids" (mp3)
Fridge MySpace
Fridge Official

Maps We Can Create (Mute)

Though James Chapman's Maps has released a few singles and EPs, the redesign of his favorite tracks from prior releases on his first full-length, We Can Create, is definitely a "proper" album. The British electronica guru has mastered the art of breezy Valentine-inspired vocals soaring over layered synths, guitars and hip-hop beats inspired by (we assume) Radiohead, M83 and Junior Boys. There is an undeniable pop appeal to many of the tracks, though "It Will Find You" stands out as a perfectly good single, operating on some plane between ominous song to soundtrack your stalking victim and MI theme song. The album's only quirk is its unavoidable self-consciousness, considering most of the songs have existed for quite a while and been remixed at least once (some from 16-track) for the release, and at times appear a little too thought-over.

Maps MySpace
Maps "It Will Find You" (YouTube)

Polyphonic Spree Fragile Army (TVT)

Hey guys, The Polyphonic Spree is from Dallas. You know why? Because it's the only city in the state big enough to provide housing for all the band members. And though 80 band members is impressive as far as touring and sharing soap and outfits goes, it's not necessarily a recipe for brilliance. The Polyphonic Spree is a sort of musical maelstrom, its own bizarre chorus line, traveling circus and creepy following all on its own, and unfortunately, all those things don't always equal impressive results. This sort of 'everything all the time' attitude towards music can generate relatively impressive results (we enjoy a Flaming Lips show just as much as anyone else, but we don't necessarily want them to perform in our mouth) at times, sure. However, it's hard to do such a thing honestly and with palpable genuineness: its excess continues to overshadow whatever talent might lie beneath the presentation. Fans of the Spree will love this album, finding Tim DeLaughter & Co. in their typical bizarre bliss, their graphic designer is a genius, and local fans can catch them at Stubb's on June 24.

Polyphonic Spree "Running Away" (YouTube)
Polyphonic Spree MySpace