Maps man James Chapman produces new LP by influential Dead Can Dance duo

Maps main man James Chapman has produced the forthcoming album by legendary Australian band Dead Can Dance members Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell.

Burn is due to be released in May and is the latest project involving the Northamptonshire musician who released Maps’ latest EP Sleep Today last month.

Gerrard and Maxwell began working on Burn in 2015 while writing songs for Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares.

They were later introduced to Chapman and asked him to produce the album.

Chapman said: “It was a brilliant experience and I loved working with Lisa and Jules.

“The whole process was very natural and it was a hugely enjoyable album to make.”

Chapman produced the record remotely due to in part coronavirus enforced lockdowns, but also because of Jules living in France and Lisa in Australia.

He added: “Doing it remotely was the best approach. It worked really well though.

“I would say most of the production work I do involves me working in my home studio and sending ideas back and forth, so that wasn't a huge departure.

“It gave me a lot of freedom to experiment and try different ideas which is always good.

“I actually met Jules for the first time only after we had finished the album - but it didn't feel strange, it's a nice way of working.”

Dead Can Dance were formed in the early 1980s in Australia by Gerrard and co-founder Brendan Perry. Maxwell has previously contributed keyboards for the band.

Their ninth album Dionysus was released in 2018.

Talking about Burn, Chapman said: “I love it. Lisa has one of the most astounding voices of modern times and Jules is a brilliantly accomplished composer and musician.

“The sound of the record is huge and immersive. I'm very excited to be involved in it.”

Away from production duties, Chapman has been working on new Maps material, telling fans to “watch this space”, when quizzed about whether any new music will be released this year.

The fourth Maps album Colours. Reflect. Time. Loss. was released in 2019, saw Chapman work with the Echo Collective and was followed by four remix EPs prior to December’s Sleep Today EP.

Talking about the EP – which features the title track, Something New and two remixes, he said: “The release was quite a spontaneous decision, at least in terms of how much I normally plan these things, but it felt like a great way to end the year.

“The response has been brilliant, which is great to see.

“I always end up with far more tracks than eventually make the final cut.

“So it simply becomes a bit of a process of elimination as to which ones eventually make the album.

“I always loved the two tracks that made it on to this EP, but I think at the time they didn't quite fit with the overall themes on the 'C.R.T.L.' album.

“I am very happy Sleep Today and Something New finally made it out into the world though.”

The four remix EPs which were released last year, saw the likes of New Order’s Stephen Morris, Ride’s Andy Bell, Polly Scattergood, C Duncan and A Certain Ratio all re-interpreting tracks.

Chapman added: “2020 was a real slog and a really terrible year in many ways for many people, but I am cautiously optimistic that things can really only be better in 2021.

“I am incredibly lucky to still be able to make music from home and so grateful that people are listening and supporting me - even with the world collapsing.

“I was grateful to be able to continue to connect with people through those releases, even through such dire times. Music does seem to have a way of doing that I think.

“I have been incredibly pleased with the response to 'C.R.T.L.' - right from the very first singles at the start of 2019, and the love shown for the album itself, through the live shows last summer, and then the amazing artists I got to collaborate with for the remix EPs.”

2019 saw the first Maps gigs in about a decade, with shows at London’s Bush Hall and the Southbank Centre.

Like other musicians, Chapman wasn’t able to perform live last year due to the impact the coronavirus had on the music industry.

Looking to 2021, Chapman adds: “I hope the world becomes a bit less scary, but on a personal level I will be continuing to work on new Maps tracks and just keep moving forward.

“I'm excited for the next chapter.”

Sleep Today is out now on regular streaming platforms.

For more information, visit https://thisismaps.com

Burn is released on May 7 via Atlantic Curve.