When Maps & Atlases finally released their long gestated full-length ‘Perch Patchwork’ in October it proved to be an ambitious, sustained and exhilarating work, it’s strong pop hooks dispelling the maths-rock tag for good. The lightning-fast guitar lines that characterised earlier output now augmented by diverting brass and string arrangements, from the military drum lines of ‘The Charm’ to the soft Beach Boys styled vocal chorus of ‘Israeli Caves’.

Choice cut ‘Living Decorations’ is lifted from the album for single release on 14th February; it’s smart African percussion-bolstered indie showcasing the band in full flight. On the flip, a fantastically elastic remix from hotly tipped experimental electro collective BretonLABS, already professed fans of M&A. This is the second of two remixes of the song– the first dropping online a few weeks back, quickly rising to the No.2 spot at Hype Machine.

Two years on from their last visit supporting Foals, Maps & Atlases returned to the UK in October to the gratifying prospect of a sold out tour, and they are back for more dates in late January and early February:

28 Fri UK NOTTINGHAM Bodega

29 Sat UK NEWCASTLE Other Rooms

30 Sun UK EDINBURGH Sneaky Pete’s

1 Tue UK LONDON XOYO

2 Wed UK OXFORD Jericho Tavern

3 Thu France PARIS La Maroquinerie

4 Fri France METZ Les Trinitaires

5 Sat Belgium GENT Charlatan

7 Mon Germany OBERHAUSEN Drucklufthaus

8 Tue Germany MUENSTER Gleis 22

9 Wed Germany BERLIN Festsaal Kreuzberg

10 Thu Denmark COPENHAGEN Loppen

11 Fri Sweden MALMO Debaser

12 Sat Sweden STOCKHOLM Debaser