Features Track By Track: The Mantles - Long Enough To Leave

San Francisco four-piece The Mantles took to the task of providing a track-by-track guide to their new ‘Long Enough To Leave’ album by placing the listener right at the heart of each individual song. The situation’s about you, do something about it, etc. etc. New on Slumberland records, there’s an undoubted sense of command ringing from frontman Michael Olivares’s direct calls. Such an inkling proves good with the below guide.

Recorded with Kelley Stoltz, the album’s out on Slumberland Records, gaining its UK release on 15th July.

Stream in full below and scroll down for the group’s track-by-track guide.



Marbled Birds
This song is loosely based on a celebration at the end of the world. Even though you’ve been ungrateful, you’re still invited to the party.

Hello
Pen pals of the world unite. So you don’t exactly fancy the place where you currently find yourself? That’s alright, escape is just within reach. Answer a few phone calls and post a few letters, and soon you’ll be whisked away. The meaning of life is communication. What wither and ash isolation can be.

Long Enough To Leave
Welcome back home, or maybe it’s a good thing you moved out when you did. You’ve been away from the town you once called home. In your absence it has become foreign and outdated. Quick, get outta there!

Reason’s Run
You’re a tourist in a world-famous but dangerous city. After a robust lunch you find you have lost your way. A figure is fast approaching you on the same side of the street. Hold on — it’s a man and he’s scary. Before you can unglue your shoes from the sidewalk, he comes up to and offers this advice: ‘When you saw me, you should’ve crossed the street.’

Raspberry Thighs
After an amazing summer romance, you discover that the heart you thought you won is no prize. They are talking far too much about boring things. To make matters worst they are always breaking things, always broke, and always lying. Tell this number to ‘leave I and I alone.’

Brown Balloon
‘Brown Balloon’ is a slang term meaning bad news. During a festive evening at a house party, your girl informs you that she wants to break it off. You take to the streets trying to convince yourself that your life is just the story of someone else.

Bad Design
You look unhappy, sourpuss. Perhaps you were mis-assembled at the factory. Remember to get cat food and kitty litter.

Don’t Cross Town
So you got a new life. You’ve decided to pack it up and move across town. In the move, you’ve left a number of personal items behind. Listen to them plead, ‘Don’t cross town’.

More That I Pay
Having too much awareness can be a scary thing. Everything is trying to jump in and thru your mind. You’re starting to feel loopy. Pull yourself away from the details. Confine yourself to a healthier resolution and quit paying the price of insanity.

Shadow Of Your Step
After the fall of civilization, those who remain begin to pickup the pieces and rebuild - OR - a long time relationship has ended and now you’re haunted by the memories of it.