Ears Wide Open: Datamaps

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Datamaps

Paul Larson goes back a long way in L.A. indie circles, first with the singular ’90s rockers Strictly Ballroom (dubbed “Enocore” for mixing the avant-garde tilt of Brian Eno with the sounds of first-wave emo), and then with Athalia, the Minor Canon and the Georgia Sand.

Datamaps, in which Larson is joined by Steve Krowlikowski (Repeater), Brent Stranathan (Near Beer) and Ben Eisen (The Minor Canon), has played around L.A. for three or so years (ah, Echo Park Rising, you are missed) without having released any recordings beyond a live session for KXLU. Until this month.

With its probing guitar and bittersweet confessional lyrics, Datamaps’ first proper single “Bury You” takes Larson back to his Y2K-era indie-rock roots, packing both a melodic and emotional punch. It’s the first of nine songs the quartet recorded in part at EastWest Studios with engineer Chandler Harrod and in part at Larson’s own downtown L.A. studio. Details on future releases are forthcoming.

||| Stream: “Bury You”