The Mantles – S/T (2009) [Slitbreeze] // Grade: B

It’s hard not to be curious about The Mantles’ debut album with the cover art staring you in the face. A suited young man stands expressionless holding a Jimmy Hendrix LP, seeming to float in the middle of nowhere, rooted in some undefined past decade. The mysterious man on the cover is actually drummer Virginia Weatherby’s father and hidden in the faded, sun-washed photograph and rural backdrop are all the clues you need to decipher the San Francisco garage rock quartet’s sound.

Equal doses of country rock and psychedelia influences run throughout The Mantles’ self-titled debut. “Burden” establishes the band’s sound for newcomers who’ve slept on their two previous 7″ releases. Not unlike the cover photo, vocals remain at an eerie distance, beckoning you closer, but never coming near enough to offer explanation. The rift created by the vocals could be a turnoff, but The Mantles fill the distance with jangly instrumentation full of country rock and blues notes that offer a pleasant sense of familiarity and warmth.

The Mantles are a band that require a certain level of patience to appreciate. Many of the 10 tracks on the album have a tendency to blend together. On the surface level, The Mantles ride the same techniques over and over, but if you listen, I mean really listen to this album, you’ll find a thread of subtle shifts and an overall understated beauty.

Vocalist Mike Oliveras is unforgettable on “Look Away”, “Thin Reminder” and “Samantha”. When The Mantles put vocal melody at the forefront, they shine. With each listen to the album, I find myself waiting in anticipation for the moments that Oliveras’ voice will break through the moments of near-monotony and pull me close enough to strum his guitar with my own fingers.

The runaway success of Girls has given the San Francisco garage and lo-fi scene a lot of attention lately and while The Mantles don’t have any infectious hooks or possess the accompanying buzz-worthy videos, their debut is more than worth your time to check out.

- Scrooge McFuck