Walking the thin line between dark experimentalism, melodic hooks, and mythical story-telling, Where Maps End is a heady, fantastical journey through madness, adventure, love, and enlightenment set to the music of one of China's most promising bands.

15 MP3 Songs in this album (61:11) !
Related styles: Rock: Space Rock, Rock: Experimental Rock, Mood: Intellectual

People who are interested in Arcade Fire Neutral Milk Hotel Radiohead should consider this download.


Details:
Rainbow Danger Club donât actively seek the limelight, but with the release of their new album -- "Where Maps End" -- itâs about to find them.

Guitarist Jesse Munson and bassist Dennis Ming Nichols lead the band, with Munson handling the bulk of the songwriting, affixing signature riffs, unique thematic angles and odd time signatures. Nichols handles production and has proven himself adept at using the studio as an instrument. His work on the bass is an integral part of the bandâs sound, allowing Munson to explore melodic textures. Drummer Michael Ford conveys more with fewer strokes than anyone in Shanghai rock right now, while trumpeter Michael Corayer lends vivid color to the bandâs sound.

They have played more and more shows to increasingly larger audiences since their humble opening salvo in a basement bar two years ago. Furthering the sound of âThe New Atlantis", their 2010 EP, "Where Maps Endâ leads to uncharted fields. Its aesthetic is atmospheric, but anthemic.

The album was self-recorded at Munsonâs apartment and inside a post-revolutionary underground bomb shelter called JuJu. The band took a creative route for the cover art, launching a design contest with the help of NeochaEDGE, an online artist community in China.

â'Where Maps End' is a collection of songs cut from an imaginary world," says Munson of the new album. "A lot of stories inhabit this place. The world at that time hadnât been figured out, anything was possible, and so itâs an attractive place in that way.â A wide range of themes and motifs inhabit this musical landscape in the new 'Where Maps End,' including sailing to the end of the earth, the past in its relation to the present and future, and love and its relationship to death.

Although the album is meant to be experienced as a whole, a few key tracks stand out among the madness. The songs âPassages," âWelcome to Cloud City," and âWe Can Be Friendsâ can only be described as creepy, designed to scare those listening -- yet they won't know why. Jay Gatsby could have sung âEnduring Loveâ to Daisy Buchanan during the Jazz Age. Finally, the albumâs epic tracks, âLive on in Photographs," âNeighbors on the Rooftops," and âBabies Grow on Trees," are simply too good to not be experienced first-hand.

A typical Rainbow Danger Club performance involves the band putting guitar, bass, drums and trumpet to good use, but will also showcase synthesizer, as well as an extra dollop of floor tom. Part of their signature sound is bass and guitar played with a bow or stick that also uses a floor tom on songs like âBattleshipsâ so hard that you almost feel sorry for the poor thing.

Despite the accomplishments they have made in the past two years -- the EP release, numerous big shows, scene insiders ranking âNeighbors on the Rooftopsâ as 2010âs song of the year, being recognized on the UK Guardianâs music site, and now the new album -- the band remains low-key.

âWe have no super high expectations," says Nichols of the bandâs future prospects. "I've always said that I would be happy if a dozen people really, really love the album and still listen to it 10-20 years from now and that still holds true." Based on the merits of âWhere Maps End," itâs safe to say that they will meet this modest goal -- plus some.

Read More: CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/drink/rainbow-danger-club-album-release-602053#ixzz1Gv1UqkgU