By: Katrina Nattress

Since its inception in 2004, Maps & Atlases has managed to release two EPs on the indie label Sargent House, but had yet to produce a full-length album…until now.

After deciding to part ways with Sargent House, the quartet signed with the prestigious Northwest indie label Barsuk, which is home to the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Mates of State and Menomena. After playing a slew of new tunes at their live shows, the boys decided to record their long awaited debut. The album, entitled Perch Patchwork is set for a June 29 release.

“It was great to be able to step outside of our live setting and imagine the songs in a different way,” says guitarist Erin Elders. Continues singer/guitarist David Davison, “We went into the record with the understanding that the creation of the album would be separate from its existence as a live piece of music, which was really liberating.”

Though the Chicagoans have planted their roots in math rock, with influences such as Hella and Don Caballero, this album has a familiar accessibility. With the help of producer Jason Cupp (The Elected, Nurses, Cast Spells) the band successfully combines the technical and organic experimental aspects of math rock with indie pop, and finally gives Maps & Atlases a chance to prove that its unique live soundscape can effectively be translated into an LP.

The full track listing for Perch Patchwork is:

Will
The Charm
Living Decorations
Solid Ground
Is
Israeli Caves
Banished Be Cavalier
Carrying The Wet Wood
Pigeon
If This Is
Was
Perch Patchwork

Tour dates for a pre-album release tour have been confirmed. They are below:

4/10 – Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor (Rock Island, IL)
4/11 – The Basement (Columbus, OH)
4/12 – The Rex (Pittsburgh, PA)
4/13 – The Space (Hamden, CT)
4/14 – Great Scott (Boston, MA)
4/15 – Maxwells (Hoboken, NJ)
4/17 – SUNY Purchase (Purchase, NY)
4/18 – Clementines (Harrisonburg, VA)
4/19 – Musica (Akron, OH)
4/24 – Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA)
4/25 – Cats Cradle (Carrborro, NC)
4/27 – Black Cat (Washington, DC)
4/28 – Webster Hall (New York, NY)
4/29 – Paradise (Boston, MA)
4/30 – First Unitarian Church (Philadelphia, PA)
5/1 – Pearl Street (Northampton, MA)
5/3 – Petit Campus (Montreal, QC)
5/4 – Opera House (Toronto, ONT)
5/5 – Grog Shop (Cleveland, OH)
5/6 – Southgate House (Newport, KY)
5/7 – The Old Rock House (St Louis, MI)
5/8 – Metro (Chicago, IL)
5/9 – Pabst Theatre (Milwaukee, WI)
5/10 – Varsity Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
5/12 – Bluebird Theatre (Denver, CO)
5/13 – Urban Lounge (Salt Lake City, UT)
5/15 – Bitmore Cabaret (Vancouver, BC)
5/16 – Neumos (Seattle, WA)
5/17 – Berbati’s Pan (Portland, OR)
5/19 – The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)
5/22 – Casbah (San Diego, CA)