Maps of the Night Sky

Though not nearly as precious as the celestial moniker might suggest, Toronto scene newcomers Maps of the Night Sky conduct most of their musical manoeuvres in the same sort of smart, literate pop airspace as Dan Bejar and the Weakerthans when in cerebral mode. At times, the subtlety and minimalism at work on this five-song debut belies the complexity of the arrangements, but serves to underscore the sometimes wordy and poetic bouts of gifted guitarist/vocalist Ray Cammaert. Instrumentation, though sparse, is impressively varied here, ranging from the typical hardware array to well-placed bits of piano, organ and accordion. The band’s penchant for fragile, longish intros tends to ask a little more of listeners than the average indie pop fare, but those who pay attention are ultimately rewarded with an engaging array of provocative lyrical imagery. Intrigued mellow pop enthusiasts in Western Canada can chart these swell Maps live throughout September.