French indie-pop maestros Exsonvaldes make a triumphant return with their fifth studio album Maps, which unveils an intricately woven tapestry of musical evolution and environmental commentary after a six-year hiatus. A concept album mapping their journeys through cities like London and Turin, this record is a chronological exploration traversing the sonic landscapes of every pop decade since the seventies.

It kicks off with the climate-conscious anthem ‘Change’, signaling a dire warning about the planet’s precarious future. This leads to the prophetic ‘Good-Bye Europe’, penned long before Brexit. With a blend of French and English, Exsonvaldes delivers tongue-in-cheek humor and irony. Tracks like ‘Dansé’ dissect the denial of hangovers, while ‘Party People’ satirically mocks nocturnal excesses. ‘Barbican,’ featuring Emma Broughton, enumerates the ravages of a beleaguered England, while ‘Torino’ takes a romantic road trip through Italy.

With a mixture of irony, indie-pop sensibilities, and environmental angst, Maps serves as an anxiety-laden soundscape. The band rings all the alarm bells about the impending environmental crisis, while crafting a chaotic-yet-poignant reflection of today’s tumultuous world. As the band embarks on a tour across France, Spain, and Germany, this new album is set to leave an indelible mark on the global indie scene.

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