I had never heard of The Mantles until our co-worker Kimberly said I would love them. She was right, very right.
Sonically falling between The Velvet Underground, a less aggressive Husker Du, the criminally overlooked Starvations, and contemporaries The Fresh & Onlys, The Mantles' debut record is a straight scorcher from front to back. Byron Coley, whose writing I admire to limitless heights, said the following in a recent issue of The Wire: "... a vibe somewhere between the crisp gauze of Midwest groups associated with the early-'80s garage revival (Vertebrats, Plasticland, etc.) and the mysto-stroke of late-'80s New Zealand." He pretty much nailed that one.
While we're on the subject, what is in the water over in San Francisco? Maybe it's the morning buns at Tartine, but between Grass Widow, Thee Oh Sees, Nodzzz, Rank/Xerox, and Ty Segall now, and Crime then, I might just have to pick up and relocate.
I failed to catch the band in their US tour supporting Ty Segall, so their live show remains a mystery to me...but one thing is for sure, I won't miss them next time they trek it out to Brooklyn. I have no doubt their record will not leave my turntable before their imminent arrival, and I can already say with confidence that it will be one of the shows of the year. The Mantles, if you're reading this, please come to Brooklyn soon.
- By Mike Treff
Price: $14.99
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