Maps, Plug,

Okay, so penning and recording such an epic debut album wasn't quite that simple for James Chapman - aka Maps - but it wasn't far off that.

Either way, the DIY endeavours of this former turntable enthusiast - later aided by co-producer and Bjork collaborator Valgeir Sigurdsson in Iceland with mixing by Ken Thomas (Sigur R"s, Hope Of The States) - resulted in a resplendent record that was in the running for the Nationwide Mercury Prize

But it took "a weird kind of a journey" to get to that point. James spent his late teens dabbling with various indie-rock bands and baggy-revivalism. "Then I went to university and I hated it," he explains. "All I wanted to do was music and I thought it was never gonna happen and I got a bit depressed. I was ill for a bit and music gave me hope. There was time when I didn't do anything at all but lay in bed and listen to music."

Fast forward and Maps is a much better boy and currently touring To The Sky, which proved popular on his rounds of the summer festivals. He is on Matilda Street tomorrow.

David Dunn