Mapmaker

mapmaker is the second jagjaguwar/ brah album from brooklyn noisepunks parts & labor. expanding on the soaring melodies and cracked electronics of 2006's stay afraid, p&l explores a wider array of berserk, malfunctioning instruments and intricate, pummeling rhythms. these twelve political/personal anthems about ambition and distraction boast bigger choruses, denser drones and shinier hooks. adding new textures to parts & labors searing pop-squall, the album features guest spots from flautist/megaphonist/vocalist natalja kent (of the good good) and guitarist joe kremer (of labelmates pterodactyl). opening surge fractured skies features a horn section (led by p&ls bj warshaw on sax) billowing up through the kaleidoscopic fuzz of electronics. track 10 is a distorted-toy-keyboard take on the classic minutemen antiwar spiel king of the hill. parts & labor cite the following bands as influences and are totally cool with you name-checking them: husker du, sonic youth, boredoms, minutemen, neutral milk hotel and amps for christ. parts & labor spent 2006 touring extensively around europe and north america, playing shows with clinic, black dice, islands, sonic boom, i love you but ive chosen darkness, wilderness, man man, spank rock, an albatross, oneida, year future, hidden cameras, charalambides, wooden wand, matt & kim, kyp malone and oakley hall; and they can't wait to do it again