Afteglades, the third LP from Mappe Of (project of multi-instrumentalist Tom Meikle), explores the complicated emotional journey in the face of an extraplanetary reckoning. Against the backdrop of a world ending event, Meikle maintains a genuine essence of humanity and vulnerability. Afterglades is less of a concept album and unravels more as a meditation on how we as individuals would approach our distinct end with the people we love most.
The end of the world is an overwhelming theme, but the ethereal vocals and masterfully layered instrumentals feels like someone is holding your hand – leading you through the narrative. Purposeful moments illicit a feeling of the grip loosening, but it is all part of the immersive experience. Produced by Will Crann (who also produced Mappe Of’s fantastical previous album Isle of Ailynn), the dynamic sequencing of the tracks keeps you on your toes but remains thoroughly accessible.
While intricate and complex in its arrangements, Afterglades makes the listener feel like the main character of the story. Surrounded by sprawling instrumentation and technical complexity, the album is about the individual who is experiencing it. Mappe Of utilizes elements of folk, post-rock, and electronica to create a swirling atmosphere from start to finish, Afterglades feels like a well researched experiment that I am more than happy to be a guinea pig for.
Afterglades was released September 19 via Paper Bag Records. Physical copies of the album (including variant LP pressings) are available for purchase on the Paper Bag Records merch store HERE.
Mappe Of will be preforming live in support of the Afterglades release on October 9 at TD Music Hall (connected to Massey Hall). To buy tickets, click HERE.
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Bio:
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Tom Meikle, known by his artist moniker Mappe Of, first emerged on the scene with the highly acclaimed, self-produced, ‘A Northern Star, A Perfect Stone’ in 2017 (Paper Bag Records). The album immediately captivated listeners with its sonic landscape, an ethereal avant-folk tour de force that belonged to no time or place. From classically inspired, masterfully performed intricate guitar arrangements to hauntingly beautiful melodies and vocal textures to lush epic soundscapes, this debut album introduced the world to a new artist unafraid to annihilate any musical boundaries and chart his own course. The high-concept full-length ‘The Isle of Ailynn’ followed in 2019, showcasing Tom’s skill and talent for songwriting and production mere months before the world shut down. Since his debut, Mappe Of has amassed over 15 million streams across DSPs, had his music featured in several primetime network television series, drew the attention of tastemaker media outlets, and, before the pandemic, performed at notable festivals and toured with the likes of Bahamas, Martha Wainwright, SYML, and Matt Holubowski.
